The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750

The Anglo-Dutch Wars, de Ruyter and the Raid on the Medway, Beachy Head and La Hogue, the Great Northern War in the Baltic and the wars of the Spanish and Austrian Successions.

This chapter of Naval Battles holds 221 battles. For each one we give when and where it was fought, who fought it, the ships that took part, what happened, how it ended and why it is remembered. See all 2,188 battles on one page.

Marea can build any of the ships that fought in these battles, as she was on the day, with the maximum detail the records permit. Many of these battles cost thousands of lives, and we build their ships with that in mind.

This database was put together by Ai Refloat™, Marea’s own artificial intelligence, from naval histories, museums, official records and encyclopaedias in many languages. Ai Refloat is still young & like any teenager, it can be a little volatile and unpredictable at times, but above all, it is learning fast. So this list may well contain mistakes and we welcome the input of everyone who knows these battles better than we do.

Have you spotted a mistake, or is a battle missing? Tell us which battle and what to correct, and we will amend it accordingly. Tell us here

The battles

The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Cretan War (1645 to 1669)
Action of 10 July 1651 Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Paros; Bataille de Paros; Nakşe Deniz Muharebesi
10 July 1651 · Between Paros and Naxos, Cyclades, Aegean Sea
Fought between Republic of Venice against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Alvise I Mocenigo (Venice); Hüsambeyzade Ali Pasha (Ottoman)
Forces 28 Venetian sailing ships, 24 galleys and 6 galleasses against 55 Ottoman sailing ships, 53 galleys and 6 maonas
Losses Ottoman: 5 sailing ships destroyed, 10 sailing ships and 1 maona captured, 965 prisoners. Venice: unknown.
Result Venetian victory
After minor fighting on 8 July, the Venetian and Ottoman fleets fought between Paros and Naxos on 10 July. The Venetians won, taking ten sailing ships and many prisoners.
Why it is remembered A Venetian victory in the Cretan War that did not prove decisive.
Sources differ One account places the battle between Paros and Naxos; another account says off Patmos and Naxos.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unidentified engraver, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Stockholm incident Blockade and raiding
July 1651 · English Channel
Fought between English privateers against Sweden
Commanders Sybraut Jellis, wounded (Sweden)
Forces 2 English privateer ships against 1 Swedish ship
Ships Stockholm, Jonsco Frigot, Phoenix
Losses Sweden: 1 killed, several wounded; the ship surrendered.
Result English victory
The Swedish ship Stockholm, returning from Portugal, was attacked in the Channel by the English privateer man of war Jonsco Frigot. When the Phoenix arrived to support her, the Stockholm gave up.
Why it is remembered A privateering incident between England and Sweden in 1651.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Spanish War (1635 to 1659)
Capture of the galleon Lion Couronné Single-ship action
17 June 1651 · Off Formentera, Balearic Islands
Fought between Spain against France
Commanders John Joseph of Austria (Spain); La Chesnaye, killed (France)
Forces 11 Spanish galleys against 1 French galleon and 1 saetía
Ships Lion Couronné
Losses Spain: 99 killed, 227 wounded, all galleys damaged. France: 103 or 200 killed, 58 to 70 wounded, 102 or 200 taken prisoner; the galleon captured and the saetía sunk.
Result Spanish victory
A squadron of eleven Spanish galleys under John Joseph of Austria attacked the French galleon Lion Couronné off Formentera and captured her after a fight. Her captain La Chesnaye was killed.
Why it is remembered A hard fought galley action against a single galleon, at heavy cost to the galleys.
Sources differ French dead are given as 103 or 200 and prisoners as 102 or 200.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Aert Anthoniszoon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Dover (1652) Fleet battle
19 May 1652 (29 May Gregorian) · Off Dover, Strait of Dover
Fought between Commonwealth of England against the Dutch Republic
Commanders Robert Blake (England); Maarten Tromp (Dutch Republic)
Forces About 25 English ships against about 40 to 47 Dutch ships
Ships James, Brederode, President, Sint Laurens, Sint Maria
Losses Dutch: the Sint Laurens and Sint Maria captured, the Sint Maria abandoned sinking. England: unknown.
Result Inconclusive
Cromwell had ordered foreign warships to lower their flags to English ships. When Tromp did not strike his flag, Blake in the James fired warning shots, the third of which hit Tromp's Brederode, and broadsides followed. The English President grappled the Brederode but was dismasted by Johan Evertsen's ship. The fight lasted about five hours, until nightfall, when the Dutch withdrew in a defensive line to protect their convoy.
Why it is remembered The first engagement of the First Anglo-Dutch War; England declared war on 8 July 1652. Historians still differ on who came off better.
Sources differ Dutch strength is given as 47 ships in one account, 40 in another account and 44 in the ship list; English strength as 25, 24 or 23. The ship list says the Sint Maria was recaptured while the aftermath says she reached the Netherlands.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Artist not specified, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Dungeness (1652) Fleet battle
Also known as Slag bij de Singels; Bataille de Dungeness
30 November 1652 (10 December Gregorian) · Off Dungeness, Kent
Fought between Dutch Republic against the Commonwealth of England
Commanders Maarten Tromp, with Johan Evertsen and Michiel de Ruyter (Dutch Republic); Robert Blake, wounded, and Benjamin Blake (England)
Forces 73 Dutch warships and some fireships, only part of which fought, against 37 English warships
Ships Brederode, Hollandia, Princes Louise, Monnickendam, Witte Lam, Schiedam, Triumph, Garland, Anthony Bonaventure, Vanguard, Victory
Losses England: 5 ships (Garland and Anthony Bonaventure captured, two smaller vessels burnt, one sunk). Dutch: 1 ship, the Schiedam, lost to fire and explosion.
Result Dutch victory
Tromp, escorting a large convoy, found Blake's fleet in the Downs and followed it south. Off Dungeness the leading ships engaged at about three in the afternoon. The Garland rammed Tromp's flagship Brederode and was boarded and taken, and the Anthony Bonaventure was taken after her crew had been killed. Blake's Triumph lost her fore topmast and he was wounded; darkness ended the fight and he withdrew to the Downs and then the Thames.
Why it is remembered It gave the Dutch temporary control of the Channel and led to English reforms, including the Sailing and Fighting Instructions. The story that Tromp hoisted a broom at his masthead is doubted by the historian N. A. M. Rodger.
Sources differ One account gives 73 Dutch warships, another account 88 men of war and 5 fireships; English strength is 37 warships in one account and 42 capital ships with 10 smaller vessels in another account.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Clowes, W. Laird (William Laird), Sir, 1856 to 1905; Markham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir, 1830 to 1916; Mahan, A, No known restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Elba Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Monte Cristo; Seeschlacht bei Elba
28 August 1652 · Near Elba, Italy
Fought between Dutch Republic against the Commonwealth of England
Commanders Johan van Galen (Dutch Republic); Captain Richard Badiley (England)
Forces 10 Dutch warships against 4 English warships
Losses England: 1 ship captured. Dutch: no ships lost.
Result Dutch victory
A Dutch squadron under Johan van Galen fought an English squadron under Richard Badiley near Elba and captured one English ship.
Why it is remembered A Dutch success in the Mediterranean, followed in March 1653 by Van Galen's victory over Appleton at Leghorn, which Badiley arrived too late to prevent.
Sources differ A Dutch print of the battle gives the date as 7 September 1652, the New Style equivalent.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of the Kentish Knock Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of the Zealand Approaches; Slag bij de Hoofden
28 September 1652 (8 October Gregorian) · Near the Kentish Knock shoal, about 30 km east of the Thames mouth, North Sea
Fought between Commonwealth of England against the Dutch Republic
Commanders Robert Blake and Benjamin Blake (England); Witte de With, with Michiel de Ruyter and Gideon de Wildt (Dutch Republic)
Forces 68 English ships with about 2,400 guns and 10,000 men against 62 Dutch ships with about 1,900 guns and 7,000 men
Ships Sovereign, Resolution, James, Brederode, Prins Willem, Prinses Louise, Maria, Gorcum, Burgh van Alkmaer
Losses Dutch: 2 ships (Maria captured, Burgh van Alkmaer blew up) and many casualties. England: light.
Result English victory
A Dutch fleet already scattered by storms met Blake's fleet around noon, with the English holding the weather gauge. De With could not shift his flag to the Brederode because her crew refused him and went aboard the Prins Willem; the fleets fought from about five in the afternoon until dusk. The Sovereign and James ran aground on the shoal. Next morning about ten mostly Zealand ships went home, and the Dutch withdrew in the afternoon, pursued by Blake.
Why it is remembered The Dutch, divided on political and regional lines, began a building programme of 60 larger warships afterwards, and De With was blamed and later replaced.
Sources differ One account lists Prince Rupert among the English commanders without a source. Another account says the English were reinforced to 84 ships overnight.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Abraham Willaerts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Plymouth (1652) Convoy battle
Also known as Zeeslag bij Plymouth
16 August 1652 (26 August Gregorian) · Off Plymouth, English Channel
Fought between Dutch Republic against the Commonwealth of England
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter (Dutch Republic); George Ayscue (England)
Forces 22 Dutch warships and 6 fireships with 900 guns and 3,300 men against 38 English warships, 4 frigates and 4 fireships with 1,100 guns and 4,300 men
Losses Dutch: 50 to 60 killed, 40 to 50 wounded. England: about 31 killed, about 60 wounded.
Result Dutch victory
General at Sea George Ayscue attacked an outward bound Dutch convoy escorted by Vice-Commodore Michiel de Ruyter. In a short battle the Dutch forced Ayscue to break off; the convoy sailed safely into the Atlantic and Ayscue went into Plymouth for repairs.
Why it is remembered An unexpected Dutch success early in the war, between two commanders who had been friends before it.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Spanish War (1635 to 1659) and the Fronde
Battle of Bordeaux (1653) Fleet battle
Also known as Schlacht bei Bordeaux (1653)
20 October 1653 · Gironde estuary, channel of Blaye, near Montagne, France
Fought between Spain against France
Commanders Álvaro de Bazán, 3rd Marquis of Santa Cruz (Spain); the Duke of Vendôme (France)
Forces 30 Spanish warships and three tercios against French naval forces of unknown size and about 3,000 soldiers and militia
Losses France: 3 galleys and 7 brigantines captured; 2 frigates, 2 brigantines and 15 barges burnt. Spain: none.
Result Spanish victory
A Spanish fleet under the Marquis of Santa Cruz, sent to relieve Bordeaux, then held by nobles of the Fronde against Louis XIV, met a large concentration of French warships of the Duke of Vendôme in the channel of Blaye and captured or destroyed most of them. About 1,600 Spanish soldiers then landed and sacked Montagne-sur-Gironde. A similar attempt on the Île de Ré was beaten off and Santa Cruz returned to Spain.
Why it is remembered A Spanish intervention in the Fronde that destroyed most of the French vessels on the Gironde.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Cobber17, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of the Gabbard Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Gabbard Bank; Battle of the North Foreland; Second Battle of Nieuwpoort; Zeeslag bij Nieuwpoort
2 to 3 June 1653 (12 to 13 June Gregorian) · Gabbard Bank, off Suffolk, North Sea
Fought between Commonwealth of England against the Dutch Republic
Commanders George Monck, Richard Deane, killed, John Lawson and William Penn, joined by Robert Blake on 3 June (England); Maarten Tromp and Witte de With (Dutch Republic)
Forces 100 English ships with 3,800 guns and 16,000 men against 98 Dutch ships with 3,100 guns and 11,500 men
Ships Resolution, James, George, Brederode
Losses England: 400 dead or wounded, no ships lost. Dutch: 9 ships sunk and 11 captured, 800 killed or wounded, 1,000 prisoners.
Result English victory
On 2 June Tromp's fleet, built for close fighting and boarding, attacked and was driven off by English ships fighting in line of battle with heavy guns. On 3 June Tromp attacked again though nearly out of ammunition, a sudden calm left his ships exposed to English fire, and the Dutch were routed and pursued into the evening. Richard Deane, sharing the flagship Resolution with Monck, was killed.
Why it is remembered It let the English blockade the Dutch coast, seizing many merchant ships, until the Battle of Scheveningen. HMS Gabbard was named after it.
Sources differ Dutch ships sunk are given as 9 in the main account and 6 in another section.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Heerman Witmont, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Leghorn Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Livorno; Battaglia di Livorno; Slag bij Livorno
4 March 1653 (14 March Gregorian) · Near Leghorn (Livorno), Italy
Fought between Dutch Republic against the Commonwealth of England
Commanders Johan van Galen, died of wounds (Dutch Republic); Henry Appleton and Richard Badiley (England)
Forces 16 Dutch warships against 15 English warships
Losses England: 2 ships sunk, 3 captured, 150 dead or wounded, 50 captured. Dutch: unknown; Van Galen died of his wounds.
Result Dutch victory
A Dutch squadron under Johan van Galen defeated an English squadron under Henry Appleton near Leghorn. Richard Badiley's squadron, which Appleton had been trying to join, arrived in time to see the last of Appleton's ships taken but was outnumbered and returned to Porto Longone.
Why it is remembered A Dutch victory in the Mediterranean that cost Johan van Galen his life. It was painted by Reinier Nooms around 1660.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Reinier Nooms, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Portland Convoy battle
Also known as Three Days' Battle; Driedaagse Zeeslag
18 to 20 February 1653 (28 February to 2 March Gregorian) · Off the Isle of Portland, English Channel
Fought between Commonwealth of England against the Dutch Republic
Commanders Robert Blake, wounded, Benjamin Blake and Richard Deane (England); Maarten Tromp, with Michiel de Ruyter (Dutch Republic)
Forces 80 English warships with 12,000 men and 2,800 guns against 80 Dutch warships with 8,600 men and 2,450 guns, escorting 152 merchantmen
Ships Triumph, Brederode, Prosperity
Losses England: 3 warships sunk. Dutch: 12 warships sunk (the main account says at least eight warships were taken home by Blake) and 20 to 40 merchantmen captured.
Result English victory; both sides claimed success
Tromp, escorting a homeward convoy of 152 merchantmen up the Channel, attacked Blake's fleet with the weather gauge, and the flagships Brederode and Triumph fought at close range. De Ruyter boarded and took the Prosperity, the largest English ship present. Over the next two days the English tried five times to break the Dutch line without success, while their frigates picked off merchantmen; the Dutch ran nearly out of powder and Blake was wounded in the thigh. On the fourth day Tromp had slipped away along the coast, leaving ships behind.
Why it is remembered It did not settle control of the Channel, which was decided at the Gabbard in June. The Dutch called it a glorious defeat, and their flag officers urged the building of heavier warships.
Sources differ One account gives 12 Dutch warships sunk; another account says 12 were left behind and at least eight were taken to England. Captured merchantmen are given as 12 on the second day and 20 to 40 overall.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Scheveningen Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Ter Heijde; Slag bij Ter Heijde; Seeschlacht bei Scheveningen
31 July 1653 (10 August Gregorian) · Off Scheveningen and Ter Heijde, North Sea
Fought between Commonwealth of England against the Dutch Republic
Commanders George Monck, with Benjamin Blake and William Penn (England); Maarten Tromp, killed, and Witte de With (Dutch Republic)
Forces About 120 to 130 English ships with 4,000 guns and 17,000 men against about 125 Dutch ships with 3,450 guns and 13,000 men
Ships Resolution, Brederode
Losses England: 950 to 1,200 killed and wounded, 2 ships. Dutch: 2,000 killed and wounded, 1,000 captured, 12 to 30 ships.
Result English tactical victory; the Dutch lifted the blockade
After the Gabbard the English blockaded the Dutch coast. Tromp sailed to lift it and joined De With's 27 ships from Texel off Scheveningen. On 31 July the fleets passed through each other four times; Tromp was killed early by a sharpshooter in the rigging of William Penn's ship, and his death was kept secret. By late afternoon twelve Dutch ships had been sunk or taken and De With covered the retreat to Texel, but the battered English fleet had to return to port and could not keep up the blockade.
Why it is remembered The last battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War and the death of Maarten Tromp. Peace talks followed, leading to the Treaty of Westminster in 1654. It was painted by Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten and Willem van de Velde the Elder.
Sources differ Both sides claimed victory. English strength is 120 ships in one account and 130 in another account; Dutch ship losses range from 12 to 30.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Dutch-Portuguese War
Action of 2 May 1654 Fleet battle
2 May 1654 · West coast of India, near Carmona north of Cabo de Rama, with follow on actions near Karwar and Hanovar
Fought between Dutch Republic (Dutch East India Company) against Portugal
Commanders Rijckloff van Goens (Dutch); António Sottomaior (Portugal, Santo António de Mazagão)
Forces Dutch: 11 ships of about 30 to 40 guns, Avenhoorn, Sluys, Cabeljauw, Hulst, Saphier, Konijn, Gecroonde Leeuw, Muyden, Weesp, Popkensburch and Zijdeworm. Portuguese: three galleons, including Santo António de Mazagão (36 guns) and São João Pérola (38 guns).
Ships Avenhoorn, Sluys, Cabeljauw, Hulst, Saphier, Konijn, Gecroonde Leeuw, Muyden, Weesp, Popkensburch, Zijdeworm, Santo António de Mazagão, São João Pérola, Nazaré
Losses Portuguese: the galleons ran aground and were burnt; on 6 May the galleon Nazareth was burnt near Hanovar. Dutch: Zijdeworm was burnt as a fireship near Karwar on about 4 May.
Result Dutch victory
A Dutch squadron of eleven ships under Rijckloff van Goens attacked three Portuguese galleons, the first seven Dutch ships taking on Santo António de Mazagão and the rest São João Pérola. The galleons ran aground and were burnt. In the following days the Dutch used Zijdeworm as a fireship near Karwar, and on 6 May the Portuguese galleon Nazareth was burnt near Hanovar.
Why it is remembered These actions removed a significant proportion of Portuguese ships in the Indian Ocean. They are the subject of C. R. Boxer's study of naval actions between the Portuguese and the Dutch in India in 1654.
Sources differ The Wikipedia text places the battle near Colombo, but also says the galleons grounded and burnt near Carmona, north of Cabo de Rama on the Indian coast. The commander of São João Pérola (given as António de Abreu) is marked as uncertain, and it is not clear whether the Nazaré of the ship list is the Nazareth burnt on 6 May.
Sources Wikipedia · cmhs-data.exeter.ac.uk
Image: Victor Meirelles, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Dutch-Portuguese War
Action of 23 March 1654 Convoy battle
Also known as First Battle of Colombo; Azione del 23 marzo 1654
23 March 1654 · Near Colombo, Ceylon
Fought between Portugal against the Dutch Republic
Commanders António Pereira (Portugal)
Forces 5 Portuguese galleons escorting 5 galleys against 3 Dutch warships
Ships Nazaré, São João, Santo António de Mazagão, São José, São Filipe e Santiago, Windhond, Renoçer, Drommedaris
Losses Portugal: 2 officers killed. Dutch: unknown.
Result Portuguese victory
Three Dutch warships tried to stop a Portuguese convoy of five galleys escorted by five galleons bound for Colombo. In a confused fight the Dutch Windhond and Renoçer changed hands and the Portuguese lost two officers, before the Dutch broke off the action.
Why it is remembered A Portuguese success off Colombo, also called the First Battle of Colombo.
Sources differ Details come from the Italian account, which is unclear on which side captured and recaptured the two Dutch ships. It also lists the expulsion of the Dutch from Brazil as a result, which does not fit an action off Ceylon.
Sources Wikipedia · Wikipedia (IT)
Image: Victor Meirelles, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · First Anglo-Dutch War
Action of 29 January 1654 Single-ship action
29 January 1654 · Near Bandar Abbas, or near Sindh
Fought between Dutch Republic against the Commonwealth of England
Commanders Mr Hargreave and Mr Walterer (England); Dutch admiral unnamed
Forces 5 Dutch ships against 4 English ships
Losses England: 1 ship captured, 1 ship sunk, 30 to 80 prisoners. Dutch: no ships lost.
Result Dutch victory
Small Dutch and English naval forces fought near either Bandar Abbas or Sindh. The English lost two of their four ships.
Why it is remembered According to the main account it left the Gulf entirely in Dutch hands.
Sources differ Sources disagree on whether the action took place near Bandar Abbas or near Sindh.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Cretan War (1645 to 1669)
Battle of the Dardanelles (1654) Fleet battle
Also known as First Battle of the Dardanelles; Çanakkale Deniz Muharebesi (1654)
16 May 1654 · Just inside the mouth of the Dardanelles
Fought between Ottoman Empire against the Republic of Venice
Commanders Kara Murat Pasha (Ottoman); Giuseppe Delfino (Venice)
Forces 30 Ottoman sailing ships, 40 galleys and 6 galleasses against 17 Venetian sailing ships, 8 galleys and 2 galleasses
Result Ottoman victory
The Venetians tried to hold back the Ottoman fleet from supporting the invasion of Crete by attacking it inside the Dardanelles. An Ottoman armada routed the much smaller Venetian fleet.
Why it is remembered The first of a series of hard fought battles at the mouth of the Dardanelles between 1654 and 1657.
Sources differ The main account marks Giuseppe Delfino as killed, yet a Giuseppe Delfino is listed as a Venetian commander at the Fourth Battle of the Dardanelles in 1657.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Johann Andreas Thelot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Spanish War (1635 to 1659)
Capture of Fort Rocher Landing or siege
9 February 1654 · Fort de Rocher, Tortuga (present day Haiti)
Fought between Spain against French and English buccaneers
Commanders Gabriel de Rojas y Figueroa (Spain); Timoleon Otham de Fontenay, captured (buccaneers)
Forces A Spanish expedition of 700 men with one siege battery against more than 500 defenders
Losses Buccaneers: 3 warships, 1 frigate and 8 smaller vessels captured; 500 men taken prisoner, among them 330 buccaneers; 70 guns taken. Spain: minimal.
Result Spanish victory
A Spanish expedition of 700 troops with a siege battery attacked the buccaneer stronghold of Tortuga and took the Fort de Rocher, 500 prisoners and goods worth about 160,000 pieces of eight. The Spanish burned the colony and killed its inhabitants, leaving a garrison of 150 soldiers.
Why it is remembered Spain held the island for about eighteen months, until the approach of the English expedition under Penn and Venables led the governor of Santo Domingo to order the fort demolished and the garrison withdrawn.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Swedish expedition to New Sweden (1653 to 1654)
Standoff near St. Christopher Single-ship action
11 April 1654 · Near Saint Christopher (Saint Kitts), Caribbean
Fought between Sweden against three Turkish ships
Commanders Mattias Nertunius (Sweden)
Forces 1 Swedish ship with at least 220 men against 3 ships
Ships Örnen
Losses None on either side.
Result Swedish victory
Three Turkish ships tried to seize the Swedish ship Örnen, bound for New Sweden, near Saint Christopher. They failed and withdrew.
Why it is remembered An incident on the Swedish expedition to New Sweden of 1653 to 1654.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Cretan War (1645 to 1669)
Battle of the Dardanelles (1655) Fleet battle
Also known as Second Battle of the Dardanelles; Çanakkale Deniz Muharebesi (1655)
21 June 1655 · Inside the mouth of the Dardanelles
Fought between Republic of Venice against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Lazzaro Mocenigo (Venice); Kara Mustafa Pasha (Ottoman)
Forces 26 Venetian sailing ships, 6 galleys and 4 galleasses against 36 Ottoman sailing ships, 60 galleys and 8 galleasses
Result Venetian victory
A Venetian fleet under Lazzaro Mocenigo fought a larger Ottoman fleet inside the mouth of the Dardanelles and won a clear victory.
Why it is remembered The second of four battles at the Dardanelles between 1654 and 1657 over the Ottoman route to Crete.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Johann Andreas Thelot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Battle of Porto Farina Raid
Also known as Action of 14 April 1655; Atak angielski na Porto Farina
4 April 1655 (14 April Gregorian) · Porto Farina (Ghar el-Melh), northern Tunisia
Fought between England against Barbary corsairs
Commanders Robert Blake (England)
Losses Corsairs: 9 Algerian ships and 2 shore batteries destroyed.
Result English victory
An English fleet under General at Sea Robert Blake attacked Barbary corsair vessels at Porto Farina. Blake's fleet destroyed two shore batteries and nine Algerian ships in the harbour.
Why it is remembered The first time shore batteries were put out of action without landing men ashore.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Henry Perronet Briggs, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Anglo-Spanish War (1654 to 1660)
Siege of Santo Domingo (1655) Landing or siege
23 to 30 April 1655 · Santo Domingo, Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic)
Fought between Spain against the Commonwealth of England
Commanders Bernardino de Meneses y Bracamonte, Count of Peñalba (Spain); Admiral Sir William Penn and General Robert Venables (England)
Forces 2,400 Spanish troops (1,300 lancers, 700 regulars, 200 marines, 200 militia) against 13,120 English soldiers (7,000 marines, 6,000 infantry, 120 cavalry) carried in 34 ships
Losses Spain: 30 dead. England: about 600 killed.
Result Spanish victory
An English expedition of 34 ships under Admiral William Penn landed more than 13,000 soldiers under General Robert Venables to take Santo Domingo. A Spanish force of 2,400 under the governor, the Count of Peñalba, held the city and the English withdrew after a week.
Why it is remembered A heavy English defeat; the Puerta del Conde, once Fort San Genaro, stands in Santo Domingo today.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Denisseag6, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Anglo-Spanish War (1654 to 1660)
Battle of Cádiz (1656) Convoy battle
Also known as Bataille de Cadix (1656); Batalla de Cádiz (1656)
9 September 1656 · Off Cádiz, south west Spain
Fought between England against Spain
Commanders Richard Stayner (England); Marcos del Puerto and Juan de Hoyos (Spain)
Forces 8 English ships against 8 Spanish ships
Ships Speaker, Tredagh, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Diamond, San Francisco y San Diego, Jesus Maria y Jose, Victoria
Losses Spain: 5 ships captured, sunk or beached; many killed, including the Marquess of Baides and his wife and daughter. England: none.
Result English victory
Stayner's blockading squadron, blown out of the bay by a westerly gale, sighted the Spanish treasure ships at dawn; the Spanish took the English for fishing boats. Stayner captured the Jesus Maria y Jose with about 45 tons of silver, the Bridgewater fought the Victoria until her crew set her on fire and abandoned her, and the Plymouth sank a merchantman carrying 60,000 pieces of eight. Marcos del Puerto escaped into Cádiz in the flagship with the two smallest ships.
Why it is remembered A heavy loss for Spain: the English took nearly 1 million pounds in goods and 250,000 pounds in silver, while much more treasure went to the bottom.
Sources differ One account marks Juan de Hoyos as killed, but another account says only that his galleon was captured. A third account's ship list does not clearly match one account total of 5 Spanish ships lost.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nicolás de Cardona, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Cretan War (1645 to 1669)
Battle of the Dardanelles (1656) Fleet battle
Also known as Third Battle of the Dardanelles; Dardanellenschlacht (1656)
26 to 27 June 1656 · Inside the Dardanelles, below the Narrows
Fought between Republic of Venice and the Order of St John against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Lorenzo Marcello, killed, Barbaro Badoer and Pietro Bembo (Venice); Gregorio Carafa (Malta); Kenan Pasha (Ottoman)
Forces 67 Christian ships (29 sailing ships, 7 galleasses, 31 galleys, including 7 Maltese galleys) against 98 Ottoman ships (28 sailing ships, 9 galleasses, 61 galleys)
Ships Sultana (San Marco), Arma di Nassau, San Pietro
Losses Venice: 3 sailing ships burnt; 207 killed, 260 wounded, 94 missing. Malta: 40 killed, 100 or more wounded. Ottoman: 82 ships captured, sunk or burnt; about 5,000 Christian galley slaves freed.
Result Venetian and Maltese victory
On 26 June a north wind carried the Ottoman fleet down the strait, but the wind shifted to the south east and trapped it against the Asian shore below the Narrows. In the melee that followed only Kenan Pasha with 14 galleys and two sailing ships escaped; the rest were taken, sunk or burnt. Captain General Lorenzo Marcello was killed by a cannon shot on the first day and his death was kept secret.
Why it is remembered Called the heaviest Ottoman naval defeat since Lepanto. Venice occupied Tenedos and Lemnos and blockaded the strait, causing food shortages in Constantinople that winter. It was painted by Pieter Casteleyn in 1657.
Sources differ One account and preface give 28 Ottoman sailing ships; the ship list gives 30. One account dates the battle to 26 June, another account to 26 and 27 June.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pieter Casteleyn, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Russo-Swedish War (1656 to 1658)
Battle of Kotlin Single-ship action
Also known as Бой у острова Котлин
22 June 1656 (also given as 1 August 1656) · Off Kotlin Island, Gulf of Finland
Fought between Tsardom of Russia against the Swedish Empire
Commanders Pyotr Potemkin (Russia); Irek Dalsfer, captured (Sweden)
Forces 15 Russian strugs against three Swedish galleys
Losses Sweden: one galley and her entire crew. Russia: unknown
Result Russian victory
Fifteen Russian strugs under Pyotr Potemkin fought three Swedish galleys near Kotlin Island in the Gulf of Finland. The Swedes lost one galley with all her crew, their commander was captured, and they withdrew.
Why it is remembered It was a Russian victory over Swedish galleys in the Gulf of Finland during the war of 1656 to 1658.
Sources differ The main account gives two dates, 22 June and 1 August 1656, reflecting the Old and New Style calendars.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: George Dodd (1808, 1881), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Russo-Swedish War (1656 to 1658), part of the Second Northern War
Battle of Nöteborg (1656) Fleet battle
July 1656 · Nöteborg (present day Shlisselburg, Russia)
Fought between Sweden against the Tsardom of Russia
Commanders Carl Gustaf Wrangel (Sweden)
Forces 50 smaller Swedish ships against 250 smaller Russian ships
Result Swedish victory
About 250 smaller Russian vessels had surrounded the Swedish held town of Nöteborg. A Swedish force of 50 smaller vessels under Carl Gustaf Wrangel defeated them. Few details are known.
Why it is remembered A Swedish success in the fighting around the fortress of Nöteborg, the present day Oreshek.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Macs24, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Cretan War (1645 to 1669)
Action of 18 May 1657 Fleet battle
18 May 1657
Fought between Republic of Venice against the Ottoman Empire and Algiers
Result Venetian victory
The Venetians defeated the main Ottoman navy and the fleet of the Ottoman province of Algiers. The action allowed Venetian ships to land troops and take the fort at Suazich.
Why it is remembered A Venetian success in the spring of 1657, two months before the Ottomans broke the Dardanelles blockade.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Cretan War (1645 to 1669)
Action of 3 May 1657 Fleet battle
3 May 1657 · Aegean Sea
Fought between Republic of Venice against the Ottoman fleet of Algiers
Commanders Lazzaro Mocenigo (Venice)
Forces 8 Venetian ships against 9 Ottoman ships
Losses Venice: 117 killed and 346 wounded. Ottoman: not stated.
Result Venetian victory
A Venetian squadron of eight ships under Lazzaro Mocenigo defeated nine ships of the Algerian fleet in the Aegean. Venetian casualties were 117 killed and 346 wounded.
Why it is remembered One of several actions fought by Lazzaro Mocenigo in 1657 before his death at the Dardanelles that July.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unidentified engraver, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Cretan War (1645 to 1669)
Battle of the Dardanelles (1657) Fleet battle
Also known as Fourth Battle of the Dardanelles; Bataille des Dardanelles (1657)
17 to 19 July 1657 · Outside the mouth of the Dardanelles
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Venice, the Order of St John and the Papal States
Commanders Köprülü Mehmed Pasha (Ottoman); Lazzaro Mocenigo, killed, and Giuseppe Delfino (Venice)
Forces 28 Ottoman sailing ships, 9 galleasses and 10 galleys against 17 Venetian sailing ships, 2 galleasses and 8 light galleys
Losses Ottoman: 5 vessels sunk, 3 captured, several damaged. Venice: unknown; Lazzaro Mocenigo killed.
Result Ottoman victory
The Venetian fleet lay south of the narrows when a strong northerly wind gave the Ottomans the advantage. In three days of fighting the Ottomans broke the Venetian blockade of the strait, and the Venetian commander Lazzaro Mocenigo was killed.
Why it is remembered It ended the Venetian blockade of the Dardanelles set up after the victory of 1656. The death of Mocenigo was painted by Giuseppe Lorenzo Gatteri.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Giuseppe Lorenzo Gatteri, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Dano-Swedish War (1657 to 1658)
Battle of Møn (1657) Fleet battle
Also known as Sjöslaget vid Møn (1657)
12 to 13 September 1657 · Between Møn and Bornholm, Baltic Sea
Fought between Sweden against Denmark-Norway
Commanders Klas Bjelkenstierna (Sweden); Henrik Bjelke and Niels Juel (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 25 Swedish ships of the line, 8 armed merchantmen, 2 fireships and 4 smaller ships with 1,231 guns and 6,000 men against 21 Danish ships of the line and 7 armed merchantmen with 956 guns and 4,640 men
Losses Sweden: 40 dead. Denmark-Norway: 150 dead.
Result Inconclusive
Large Swedish and Danish fleets met between Møn and Bornholm. Many ships were involved but the fighting was not very intense and neither side won.
Why it is remembered An indecisive fleet battle of the Dano-Swedish War of 1657 to 1658, with Niels Juel among the Danish commanders.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Attributed to Jacob Coning, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Anglo-Spanish War (1654 to 1660)
Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1657) Raid
Also known as Batalla de Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1657); Seeschlacht von Santa Cruz (1657)
20 April 1657 (30 April Gregorian) · Harbour of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
Fought between England against Spain
Commanders Robert Blake, Sir Richard Stayner and Benjamin Blake (England); Diego de Egües y Beaumont and Alonso Dávila y Guzmán (Spain)
Forces 23 English warships against 2 Spanish galleons, 5 smaller ships and 9 merchant ships, protected by a castle and shore batteries
Ships Jesús María, Concepción, Nuestra Señora de los Reyes, San Juan Colorado, Santo Cristo de Buen Viaje, Campechano grande, Campechano chico, Vizcaína, Sacramento, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Losses Spain: 300 killed; 2 galleons and 9 merchant ships scuttled, 5 smaller ships captured. England: 48 killed and 120 wounded; no ships lost.
Result English victory
Robert Blake's fleet forced its way into the heavily defended harbour of Santa Cruz to attack the Spanish treasure fleet. The treasure had already been landed and was safe, but the English fought the harbour forts and the Spanish ships, many of which were scuttled while the rest were burnt. Blake then withdrew without losing a ship.
Why it is remembered Blake's attack on a fortified harbour was achieved without the loss of a ship. It was painted by Charles Dixon.
Sources differ One account says the ships not scuttled were burnt; another account lists 5 smaller ships as captured.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles Dixon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Spanish War and Anglo-Spanish War
Siege of Dunkirk (1658) Landing or siege
25 May to 24 June 1658 · Dunkirk, Spanish Netherlands
Fought between France and the Commonwealth of England against Spain
Commanders Turenne (France); William Lockhart and Edward Montagu (England); the Marquis of Lede, killed (Spain)
Forces 12,000 infantry, 8,000 cavalry and 18 English warships against 2,200 infantry and 700 to 800 cavalry
Losses Spain: 1,600 to 1,700. France and England: unknown.
Result Anglo-French victory
France and the Commonwealth of England besieged Dunkirk, Spain's greatest privateering base, from the land while an English fleet blockaded it from the sea. The siege lasted a month, with many sorties by the garrison and a Spanish relief attempt under Don Juan of Austria and the Duke of York that led to the Battle of the Dunes.
Why it is remembered It took Dunkirk, from which privateers had cost England 1,500 to 2,000 merchant ships in the previous year.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Northern War
Battle of the Sound Fleet battle
Also known as Slag in de Sont; Sjöslaget i Öresund; Seeschlacht im Öresund (1658)
8 November 1658 (29 October Old Style) · The Sound (Øresund), just north of Copenhagen
Fought between Dutch Republic (with Denmark-Norway) against Sweden
Commanders Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam, Witte de With, killed, and Pieter Floriszoon, killed (Dutch Republic); Carl Gustaf Wrangel and Klas Bjelkenstjerna (Sweden)
Forces 41 Dutch ships with 1,413 guns against 45 Swedish ships with 1,838 guns; 7 Danish ships with about 280 guns could not join because of the wind
Ships Eendracht, Brederode, Jozua, Breda, Victoria, Draken, Cesar, Hercules, Pelikanen, Delmenhorst, Morgonstjerna, Leopard, Svärd
Losses Sweden: 5 ships (4 captured, 1 destroyed) and about 1,200 men. Dutch: 1 ship and about 1,400 men (439 killed, 269 captured and about 650 wounded).
Result Dutch strategic victory; a tactical draw
Sweden had invaded Denmark and Charles X Gustav was besieging Copenhagen, and the Dutch sent a fleet to stop Sweden controlling both shores of the Sound. With the weather gauge, Obdam's fleet held off aggressive Swedish attacks. The Brederode ran aground and was taken and sank, and Witte de With was shot dead aboard her; the Dutch took the Pelikanen and Delmenhorst. The Swedes had to give up the blockade, Copenhagen was resupplied by Dutch transports and Charles Gustav eventually abandoned the siege.
Why it is remembered It saved Copenhagen from the Swedish siege and was a major strategic success for the allies. Johan de Witt answered Obdam's request for simpler orders with a single sentence: save Copenhagen and strike anyone who tries to prevent it. An English fleet watched without taking part.
Sources differ One account differs between another account and ship list on the fate of some Swedish ships: the Morgonstjerna is said both to have sunk and to have been captured, and the Leopard both to have been stranded off Ven and burnt after the action.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Peter van de Velde, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Dano-Swedish War (1658 to 1660)
Battle of Ebeltoft Convoy battle
Also known as Sjöslaget i Ebeltoftbukten
23 July 1659 · Ebeltoft Bay, Jutland, Denmark
Fought between Sweden against the Dutch Republic and Denmark-Norway
Commanders Owen Coxe (Sweden); Peder Jansen, died of wounds (allied squadron)
Forces 8 Swedish frigates, 1 galiot and 1 fireship against 3 Dutch and 2 Danish frigates escorting a troop convoy
Losses Allies: 1 frigate blown up, 4 frigates captured, 1,000 men captured, the transports destroyed. Sweden: negligible.
Result Swedish victory
A Danish and Dutch squadron was escorting troop transports to Swedish held Funen when eight Swedish frigates under Owen Coxe took it by surprise. After a long fight one Dutch ship blew up, the other escorts were captured and the transport fleet was destroyed.
Why it is remembered Owen Coxe was ennobled after the battle under the name Siölöw.
Sources differ One account says the Danish captain died of his wounds; another account lists Peder Jansen, marked as dying of wounds, under the Dutch Republic.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexia de Lode, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Dano-Swedish War (1658 to 1660)
Battle of Fehmarn (1659) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Rødsand; Battle of Rödsund; Sjöslaget vid Femern; Slaget ved Rødsand; Zeeslag bij Fehmarn
30 April 1659 · Rødsand shoal, Fehmarn Belt
Fought between Sweden against the Dutch Republic and Denmark-Norway
Commanders Klas Hansson Bjelkenstjerna, wounded, and Carl Gustaf Wrangel (Sweden); Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam (Dutch Republic); Henrik Bielke and Niels Juel (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 20 to 24 Swedish warships, 2 fireships and several galleons against 22 to 26 Dano-Dutch warships with galleons and transports
Ships Trefoldigheden
Losses Sweden: 12 officers and men killed, 26 wounded. Allies: at least 1 ship damaged.
Result Inconclusive
A Swedish fleet under Klas Hansson Bjelkenstjerna met a Dano-Dutch fleet under Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam in the Fehmarn Belt. The battle ended without a clear result.
Why it is remembered It opened the way for the allied invasion of Funen, as the main account notes.
Sources differ The English account calls the battle inconclusive; the Norwegian account on the same battle says the Swedes were outmanoeuvred and driven back.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Tinkaer1991, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Karl Gustav War (Dano-Swedish War 1658 to 1660)
Skirmish at Andemose Landing or siege
Also known as Træfningen ved Andemose
7 February 1659 · Andemose, east of Steensgård, Langeland, Denmark
Fought between Sweden against Denmark-Norway
Commanders Carl Gustaf Wrangel (Sweden)
Forces A Swedish squadron of four warships with escorting vessels
The Swedish admiral Carl Gustaf Wrangel led a squadron of four warships with escorts against Langeland. Covered by the ships' guns, the Swedes got ashore at Andemose after heavy firing, but Danish peasants and soldiers counter attacked.
Why it is remembered A local defence of Langeland by peasants and soldiers against a Swedish landing.
Sources da.wikipedia.org
Image: Matthäus Merian the younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Cretan War (1645 to 1669)
Action of 27 August 1661 Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Milos (1661); Bitwa morska pod Milos
27 August 1661 · Near Milos, Greece
Fought between Republic of Venice and the Knights Hospitaller against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Giorgio Morosini (Venice); Ruffo (Hospitallers)
Forces 20 galleys and 2 galleasses against 36 Ottoman galleys
Losses Ottoman: 5 galleys sunk and 4 captured. Christian fleet: unknown.
Result Venetian and Hospitaller victory
A Venetian and Hospitaller galley fleet under Giorgio Morosini fought an Ottoman galley fleet near Milos and sank or captured nine galleys.
Why it is remembered It is shown in a seventeenth century miniature of the naval battle between the Turkish and Venetian fleets in 1661.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Sino-Dutch conflicts
Siege of Fort Zeelandia Landing or siege
Also known as 熱蘭遮城包圍戰
30 March 1661 to 1 February 1662 · Fort Zeelandia, Tayoan (Tainan), Taiwan
Fought between Ming loyalists under Koxinga against the Dutch East India Company
Commanders Koxinga and Chen Ze (Ming loyalists); Frederick Coyett, Hans Jurgen Radis and Philip Meij (Dutch East India Company)
Forces About 25,000 men in some 400 junks against 905 soldiers at Zeelandia, 140 at Provintia and 3 ships, later reinforced by a relief fleet of 12 ships with 700 sailors
Ships Hector, Koukercken
Losses Dutch: about 1,600 killed or dead of disease; the warship Hector blown up; from the relief fleet the flagship Koukercken sunk and other ships lost (the main account gives 1 warship sunk, 2 abandoned and 3 captured). Ming loyalists: about 12,500 deserted or dead, mostly from disease.
Result Ming loyalist victory
Koxinga sailed from Kinmen on 23 March 1661 with hundreds of junks and about 25,000 men and landed at Tayoan by a shallow channel unknown to the Dutch. Three Dutch ships attacked the junks and destroyed several, but the main Dutch warship Hector blew up when a gun fired near her powder. A relief fleet of 12 ships from Batavia arrived in July and fought Koxinga's fleet, and a second attempt in October failed when the flagship Koukercken ran aground under enemy guns and was sunk. After a heavy bombardment in January, Coyett surrendered Fort Zeelandia on 1 February 1662.
Why it is remembered It ended Dutch rule over Taiwan and began the rule of the Kingdom of Tungning on the island.
Sources differ One account gives the relief fleet's losses as 1 warship sunk, 2 ships abandoned and 3 captured; another account gives two ships and three smaller vessels lost, with 130 casualties.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Seizure of the Gilded Lion Blockade and raiding
1661 · North east of Bornholm, Baltic Sea
Fought between Swedish pirates against the Dutch Republic
Commanders Gustaf Adolf Skytte and Gustav Drake (pirates)
Forces 1 pirate ship with 15 men against 1 Dutch bojort
Ships The Gilded Lion
Losses Dutch: the bojort destroyed; the number killed is disputed, including the master.
Result Pirate victory
Swedish pirates led by Gustaf Adolf Skytte and Gustav Drake attacked the Dutch bojort The Gilded Lion north east of Bornholm and destroyed her.
Why it is remembered An act of piracy against Dutch shipping in the Baltic in 1661.
Sources differ The number of people killed is disputed.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Daniel Hahne, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Cretan War (1645 to 1669)
Action of 29 September 1662 Convoy battle
Also known as Battle of Kos (1662); Bitwa morska pod Kos
29 September 1662 · Between Kos and Kalymnos, Greece
Fought between Republic of Venice against the Ottoman Empire
Losses Ottoman: about 4 ships and 28 smaller vessels sunk.
Result Venetian victory
A Venetian fleet attacked and defeated the regular Turkish cargo fleet and its escort on their way to Alexandria. The Venetians sank some four ships and 28 smaller vessels.
Why it is remembered A Venetian blow against the Ottoman cargo convoy to Alexandria during the Cretan War.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Anglo-Spanish War (1654 to 1671)
Raid on Santiago de Cuba (1662) Raid
19 to 25 October 1662 · Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Fought between England against Spain
Commanders Christopher Myngs (England); Pedro de Morales (Spain)
Forces 14 English ships with about 1,400 buccaneers against 500 militia
Losses Spain: 500 killed, wounded or captured; 6 ships captured. England: 30 killed or wounded.
Result English victory
Fearing a Spanish attack on Jamaica, the governor Thomas Hickman-Windsor ordered Royal Navy captain Christopher Myngs to strike first. Myngs sailed from Port Royal with fourteen vessels carrying about 1,400 buccaneers and attacked Santiago de Cuba. Despite its strong defences the town was taken and sacked.
Why it is remembered A financial and military success for English Jamaica, carried out largely by buccaneers.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Vinckeboons, Joan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Anglo-Spanish War (1654 to 1671)
Sack of Campeche (1663) Raid
Also known as Mansfield's Assault
8 February 1663 · Campeche, on the Gulf of Mexico coast of New Spain
Fought between England (buccaneers) against Spain
Commanders Christopher Myngs and Edward Mansvelt (England); Spanish commander unknown
Forces 14 ships and 1,400 men against about 150 Spanish militia
Losses English: 30 killed or wounded. Spanish: 50 killed or wounded and 14 ships captured
Result English victory
In February 1663 a force of buccaneers in 14 ships under Christopher Myngs and Edward Mansvelt attacked the fortified Spanish port of Campeche. They overcame the militia defending the town and captured 14 Spanish ships.
Why it is remembered Later Spanish historians called it Mansfield's Assault, and it became a model for the coastal raids of the buccaneering era.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Comvaser, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
De Ruyter's expedition to West Africa Landing or siege
Also known as Expedition to West Africa (1664 to 1665)
October 1664 to February 1665 · West African coast: Gorée, Sierra Leone, Takoradi and Cormantin on the Gold Coast
Fought between Dutch Republic against England and the Royal African Company
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter (Dutch); Sir George Abercromby (England, surrendered); Francis Selwyn (England, killed)
Forces Dutch: 12 warships, a fluyt and a cargo ship, with landing forces and a large number of African auxiliaries. English: forts and trading posts, with merchant ships escorted by a Royal African Company warship.
Ships 't Geloof, Royal Commission, Victoria, St. Martha
Losses English: eight merchant ships taken at Gorée and the forts at Gorée, Takoradi and Cormantin lost; Francis Selwyn died at Cormantin. Dutch losses not stated beyond sickness among the crews.
Result Dutch victory; the forts were retaken and others captured, all but two
After England sent an expedition to take Dutch forts in Africa, De Ruyter sailed south with twelve warships. On 22 October 1664 at Gorée eight English merchant ships surrendered and Abercromby handed over the fort. In January 1665 a landing party of 431 men took the fort at Takoradi, which was then blown up, and on 6 February about 1,000 Dutch and 1,200 African allies stormed Cormantin, whose governor killed himself rather than be captured.
Why it is remembered The expedition restored the Dutch position on the Gold Coast and left the Royal African Company close to bankruptcy. The De Ruyter Stone at Freetown, engraved by the Dutch and English commanders, survives from it.
Sources differ One account relies on a single source. Another account lists Selwyn as killed in action, while a note says he killed himself to avoid capture.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Johannes Hinderikus Egenberger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Djidjelli expedition Landing or siege
Also known as Expedition to Gigeri
22 July to 30 October 1664 · Djidjelli (Jijel), Algeria
Fought between Regency of Algiers against France and the Knights Hospitaller
Commanders Mohammed Bey (Algiers); Louis XIV, the Duc de Beaufort and the Count of Gadagne (France)
Forces French: 5,650 men, 14 vessels and 8 galleys; Hospitallers: 1 battalion and 7 galleys. Algerian strength unknown.
Losses France: 2,000 killed; 30 cast iron guns, 15 iron guns and 50 mortars lost. Algiers: 500 dead and 200 wounded.
Result Algerian victory
Louis XIV sent an expedition to seize the port of Djidjelli as a naval base against the Barbary corsairs. The leaders disagreed about its aims. The town was taken easily, but after three months, closely besieged and cut off from reinforcements by an outbreak of plague, the French abandoned it and went home.
Why it is remembered A failed attempt by Louis XIV to set up a French base on the Barbary coast.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Estienne Vouillemont, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Battle of Cherchell Fleet battle
Also known as Bataille de Cherchell
24 August 1665 · Off Cherchell, Algeria
Fought between France against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders The Duc de Beaufort and the Chevalier Paul (France)
Forces 9 French ships and 2 fireships against 5 ships
Ships Pots-de-Fleurs
Losses Algiers: 3 ships sunk, including the flagship Pots-de-Fleurs.
Result French victory
A French fleet of nine ships and two fireships under the Duc de Beaufort and the Chevalier Paul defeated a squadron of five Barbary ships off Cherchell. Three Barbary ships were sunk, among them the flagship Pots-de-Fleurs.
Why it is remembered A French success against the Algerian corsairs a year after the failure at Djidjelli.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Hyacinthe Rigaud, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Lowestoft Fleet battle
Also known as Zeeslag bij Lowestoft
13 June 1665 (3 June Old Style) · About forty miles east of Lowestoft, Suffolk, North Sea
Fought between England against the Dutch Republic
Commanders James, Duke of York, Prince Rupert and the Earl of Sandwich (England); Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam, killed, Johan Evertsen and Cornelis Tromp (Dutch Republic)
Forces 109 English warships with 4,542 guns and 22,055 men against 103 Dutch warships with 4,869 guns and 21,613 men
Ships Royal Charles, Royal Oak, Montague, Mary, Great Charity, Eendracht, Oranje, Hilversum, Delft, Zeelandia, Stad Utrecht, Prinse Maurits
Losses England: about 500 killed and wounded; the Great Charity captured. Dutch: about 2,500 killed and wounded, 2,000 captured; 3 warships sunk, 5 destroyed and 9 captured.
Result English victory
Obdam's fleet attacked the English fleet under the Duke of York, and after the fleets passed each other a long gunnery duel followed. A chain shot from Obdam's Eendracht narrowly missed the Duke on the Royal Charles and killed courtiers beside him, including the Earl of Falmouth. At about 3 pm Obdam was killed on his quarterdeck and minutes later the Eendracht blew up, killing all but five of her crew; Kortenaer and Stellingwerf were also killed. Around 6 pm the Dutch fleet broke up and fled, and English frigates took six more ships the next day.
Why it is remembered A substantial English victory, but the escape of most of the Dutch fleet let the Dutch rebuild with better ships under Michiel de Ruyter. It was painted by Adriaen van Diest and Hendrik van Minderhout.
Sources differ One account gives 9 Dutch ships captured, while the narrative describes more captures than that. The location is given in one account as the English Channel, while another account places it forty miles east of Lowestoft.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Adriaen van Diest, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Action of March 1665 Single-ship action
March 1665 · Near La Goulette, Tunisia
Fought between France against Algiers
Commanders The Duc de Beaufort (France)
Forces 4 French ships and 2 fireships against an Algerian force
Losses Algiers: 3 ships sunk, one of them of 46 guns.
Result French victory
A small French force of four ships and two fireships under the Duc de Beaufort defeated an Algerian force near La Goulette. Three Algerian ships were sunk, including one of 46 guns.
Why it is remembered One of the Duc de Beaufort's actions against the Barbary corsairs in 1665.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Robert Nanteuil after Jean Nocret, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Raid on Newfoundland (1665) Raid
June 1665 · St John's, Newfoundland
Fought between Dutch Republic against England
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter (Dutch Republic); Christopher Martin (England)
Forces 20 Dutch ships against the fortifications of St John's and a force of planters and migratory fishermen
Losses England: all ships taken, the fort and houses destroyed, goods and guns taken. Dutch: none.
Result Dutch victory
After the Second Anglo-Dutch War broke out, a fleet under Michiel de Ruyter sailed to Newfoundland. He captured St John's and badly damaged the colony.
Why it is remembered A Dutch raid on the English fishing colony in Newfoundland during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Brett Hodnett, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Battle of Porto Delphino Single-ship action
Also known as Bataille de Porto Delphino; Porto Delfino
27 November 1665 · Porto Delfino (present day Kolokythia), east coast of Chios
Fought between Order of St John against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Chevalier d'Hocquincourt and Chevalier de Tourville (Order of St John); Memmi-Pacha Oglou (Ottoman)
Forces 1 frigate with 300 men against 24, later 34, Ottoman galleys with 17,000 men
Losses Order of St John: 17 dead and 48 wounded. Ottoman: 300 janissaries.
Result Victory of the Order of St John
A single frigate of the Order of St John under the Chevalier d'Hocquincourt was attacked at Porto Delfino on Chios by some thirty Ottoman galleys. Despite the odds the galleys withdrew after several hours of fighting.
Why it is remembered A single sailing frigate held off a large galley force; the Chevalier de Tourville served aboard.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: User Christophe.moustier on fr.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Vågen Raid
Also known as Battle of Bergen (1665); Slag in de Baai van Bergen
2 August 1665 (12 August Gregorian) · Vågen harbour, Bergen, Norway
Fought between Dutch Republic, with the Norwegian forts, against England
Commanders Pieter de Bitter (Dutch Republic); Thomas Teddeman, with Edward Montagu (England); Johan Caspar von Cicignon and Claus von Ahlefeldt (Bergen)
Forces 8 Dutch warships and East Indiamen sheltering a merchant and treasure fleet of about 60 ships, with the Bergen forts (about 125 guns and 200 to 300 men), against 14 English warships and 3 fireships
Ships Walcheren, Slot Hooningen, Catharina, Jonge Prins, Gulden Phenix, Rijzende Zon, Kogge, Wapen van Hoorn, Revenge, Prudent Mary, Breda, Foresight, Happy Return, Sapphire, Pembroke, Golden Lion
Losses England: 421 killed and wounded (112 dead and 309 wounded); no ships lost. Dutch: 108 killed or wounded according to the main account.
Result Dutch victory
A Dutch treasure and merchant fleet had taken refuge in Vågen, the harbour of neutral Bergen. An English squadron under Thomas Teddeman attacked it on 2 August. Through a delay in orders, the Norwegian commanders took the Dutch side, and a stray English shot that killed four soldiers in the fortress brought its guns into action. After about three hours of fire from ships and forts the English cut their cables and withdrew, badly damaged.
Why it is remembered The treasure fleet was relieved by the Dutch home fleet 17 days later. Edward Montagu was killed and is mentioned in a satirical poem by Andrew Marvell, Willem van de Velde the Younger painted the action, and an English cannonball is still lodged in the tower of Bergen Cathedral.
Sources differ Dutch losses are 108 killed or wounded in one account, while another account gives figures adding up to 113 including dead in the fortress and town.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Willem van de Velde the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Dungeness (1666) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Cape Dungeness; Bataille du cap Dungeness
17 September 1666 · Off Dungeness, English Channel
Fought between England against France and the Dutch Republic
Commanders Sir Thomas Allin (England); Job Forant (France)
Forces 24 English ships against 14 French and Dutch ships
Ships Le Rubis
Losses France and the Dutch: 116 killed or wounded, 400 captured, 1 ship captured. England: 70 casualties.
Result English victory
A combined French and Dutch squadron under Job Forant met a larger English fleet under Sir Thomas Allin. The English attacked, and in poor visibility a series of encounters left several French and Dutch ships badly damaged. The English captured the French ship Le Rubis.
Why it is remembered An English success against a combined French and Dutch squadron in the Channel, remembered for the capture of Le Rubis.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Galeazzo Gualdo Priorato, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Four Days' Battle Fleet battle
Also known as Vierdaagse Zeeslag; Bataille des Quatre Jours
11 to 14 June 1666 (1 to 4 June Old Style) · From off the Flemish coast to near the English coast, east north east of North Foreland
Fought between Dutch Republic against England
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter, Cornelis Tromp, Aert Jansse van Nes, Cornelis Evertsen, killed, and Abraham van der Hulst, killed (Dutch Republic); George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, Prince Rupert, George Ayscue, captured, Christopher Myngs, killed, and William Berkeley, killed (England)
Forces About 84 Dutch ships of the line and frigates with 22,000 men against about 79 English ships with 21,000 men, of which about 56 fought at the start while Rupert's squadron was detached
Ships De Zeven Provinciën, Hof van Zeeland, Duivenvoorde, Liefde, Swiftsure, Loyal George, Seven Oaks, Henry, Black Eagle, St Paul, Royal Charles, Royal Katherine, Prince Royal, Royal James, Convertine, Clove Tree, Black Bull
Losses England: about 20 warships lost; about 5,000 killed, wounded or captured, including nearly 2,000 prisoners. Dutch: 4 ships burnt; over 2,000 killed or wounded.
Result Dutch victory
With Rupert's squadron sent to guard the Strait of Dover, Albemarle attacked the Dutch fleet at anchor on 1 June; the Swiftsure, Loyal George and Seven Oaks were taken and Berkeley and Evertsen killed. On the second day De Ruyter rescued Tromp's isolated squadron and the English retreated at dusk. On the third day the Prince Royal grounded on the Galloper Sand and Ayscue surrendered her to Tromp; De Ruyter had her burned. Rupert rejoined, but on the fourth day De Ruyter broke the English line, Myngs was killed, and fog ended the pursuit.
Why it is remembered One of the longest naval battles in history. It was painted by Abraham Storck, Willem van de Velde the Elder and the Younger, and Pieter van Soest, and appears in the Dutch film Michiel de Ruyter (2015).
Sources differ One account gives 79 English and 84 Dutch ships; another account gives about 56 English against 85 Dutch at the start. Both sides at first claimed victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Abraham Storck, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Holmes's Bonfire Raid
Also known as Raid on the Vlie; Raid du Vliestromm
19 to 20 August 1666 (9 to 10 August Old Style) · Vlie estuary, near West-Terschelling, Netherlands
Fought between England against the Dutch Republic
Commanders Rear-Admiral Robert Holmes (England)
Forces 8 English ships against 2 Dutch ships and about 150 merchant vessels
Losses England: 6 killed and 24 wounded. Dutch: 2 ships and 140 merchant vessels destroyed; the town of West-Terschelling burned.
Result English victory
An English force under Rear-Admiral Robert Holmes raided the Vlie estuary and set fire to a large merchant fleet of 140 ships lying there. The town of West-Terschelling was burned down in the same action.
Why it is remembered The burning of West-Terschelling caused outrage in the Dutch Republic. The scene was painted by Willem van de Velde the Elder.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Willem van de Velde the Elder, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
St James's Day Battle Fleet battle
Also known as St James' Day Battle; Battle of North Foreland (1666); Two Days' Battle; Tweedaagse Zeeslag
25 July 1666 (4 August Gregorian) · Near North Foreland, Kent
Fought between England against the Dutch Republic
Commanders Prince Rupert and George Monck, with Thomas Allin, Jeremiah Smith and Edward Spragge (England); Michiel de Ruyter, Johan Evertsen, died of wounds, Cornelis Tromp and Adriaen Banckert (Dutch Republic)
Forces About 89 English ships of the line and frigates with 16 fireships against about 88 Dutch ships with 20 fireships and 9 yachts
Ships Royal Charles, Royal James, Royal Sovereign, Loyal London, Resolution, Fan-Fan, De Zeven Provinciën, Sneek, Tholen
Losses England: about 300 killed, 1 ship lost (the Resolution, destroyed by a fireship). Dutch: about 800 killed according to the main account; the Sneek and Tholen burnt.
Result English victory
Shifting winds and calms broke up the Dutch fleet off North Foreland, and the English van and centre attacked the disordered Dutch van, where Johan Evertsen was mortally wounded. Tromp's rear squadron cut through and routed the English rear, destroying the Resolution with a fireship, but then drew away from the main fleet. De Ruyter's damaged centre was pressed hard and escaped when the wind shifted, with Banckert covering the retreat through the Flemish shoals.
Why it is remembered It was followed by Holmes's Bonfire on the Vlie. The defeat split Dutch politics, and Tromp was blamed and barred from the fleet until 1673.
Sources differ Dutch casualties are given as about 5,000, about 1,200 killed or seriously wounded, or about 800 killed in different parts of the main account.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of the James River (1667) Raid
5 to 9 June 1667 · James River, near Jamestown, Virginia
Fought between Dutch Republic against England
Commanders Abraham Crijnssen (Dutch Republic); Captain Lightfoot (England)
Forces 5 Dutch ships against 1 English warship and 21 merchant ships
Ships Elizabeth
Losses Dutch: unknown. English: 1 warship sunk, 19 merchant ships captured and 2 burned.
Result Dutch victory
A Dutch force of five ships under Abraham Crijnssen sailed into the James River in Virginia looking for English shipping. Merchant ships loaded with tobacco were captured, plundered and burned, and their escort, the Elizabeth, was destroyed with them.
Why it is remembered It was a Dutch strike deep into an English colony during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, aimed at the Virginia tobacco trade.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Thea Ganoe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Martinique (1667) Fleet battle
30 June to 7 July 1667 · Off Saint-Pierre, Martinique
Fought between England against France
Commanders Sir John Harman (England); de La Barre and Robert de Clodoré (France)
Forces 11 English ships and 2 fireships against 25 French ships
Losses France: 23 ships destroyed or captured; 1,000 killed, wounded or captured. England: 80 killed or wounded.
Result English victory
A Royal Navy squadron under Sir John Harman attacked a French fleet under de La Barre lying off Saint-Pierre, Martinique, over about a week and almost destroyed it.
Why it is remembered The victory restored the English position in the Caribbean shortly before the Treaty of Breda ended the war on 31 July 1667. The attack was painted by Willem van de Velde the Younger.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Willem van de Velde the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Nevis Fleet battle
Also known as Seeschlacht vor Nevis
20 May 1667 · Off Nevis, Caribbean Sea
Fought between England against France and the Dutch Republic
Commanders John Berry (England); Abraham Crijnssen (Dutch Republic) and Antoine Lefèbvre de La Barre (France)
Forces 11 English ships against 20 Franco-Dutch warships and 12 transports carrying 1,100 troops
Losses Franco-Dutch: 2 ships. England: 1 ship.
Result English victory
An English squadron fought a confused action off Nevis against a Franco-Dutch fleet that intended to invade the island.
Why it is remembered It prevented the Franco-Dutch invasion of Nevis in the closing stages of the war.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Brian Tibbets Btibbets at en.wikipedia (www.tibbets.org), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Second Anglo-Dutch War
Raid on the Medway Raid
Also known as Tocht naar Chatham; Raid sur la Medway
12 to 14 June 1667 (22 to 24 June Gregorian) · River Medway, Chatham and Gillingham, Kent
Fought between Dutch Republic against England
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter, Cornelis de Witt, Willem Joseph van Ghent and Aert Jansse van Nes (Dutch Republic); Prince Rupert and George Monck (England)
Forces 62 Dutch warships, 15 smaller ships and 12 fireships with 17,500 men against several English ships and the fort garrisons
Ships Royal Charles
Losses England: 500 killed or wounded, 13 ships destroyed, 2 captured and 30 scuttled. Dutch: 50 to 150 killed or wounded, 8 fireships expended.
Result Dutch victory
The Dutch bombarded and took Sheerness, sailed up the Thames estuary to Gravesend and then into the Medway, past Upnor Castle and the chain known as the Gillingham Line. At Chatham and Gillingham they engaged the forts, burned or captured three capital ships and ten more ships of the line, and towed away the English flagship Royal Charles.
Why it is remembered One of the worst defeats in the history of the Royal Navy; it brought a quick end to the war on terms favourable to the Dutch. The stern of the Royal Charles is on display in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Sources differ One account gives the dates as 19 to 24 June 1667; another account gives 12 to 14 June (22 to 24 June Gregorian).
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Willem van der Stoop, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Ottoman-Venetian War of 1645 to 1669
Battle of Lesbos (1668) Fleet battle
Also known as Midilli Deniz Muharebesi; Battle of Mytilene
15 June 1668 · Off Lesbos (Midilli), Aegean Sea
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Venice and Malta
Commanders Kaplan Mustafa Pasha (Ottoman Empire); Admiral Georgio (Venice and Malta)
Result Ottoman victory
The Ottoman fleet under the Kapudan Pasha Kaplan Mustafa Pasha met a combined Venetian and Maltese fleet off Lesbos. The Ottomans defeated the allied fleet.
Why it is remembered It was one of the fleet actions of the Ottoman-Venetian war for Crete, fought in its final years.
Sources Wikipedia (TR)
Image: Piri Reis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Ottoman-Venetian War of 1645 to 1669
Battle of San Pelagio Fleet battle
Also known as Çanak Limanı Deniz Muharebesi; Battle of St. Pelagio
8 March 1668 · Çanak Limanı (San Pelagio), west of Candia, Crete
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Venice
Commanders Memipaşazade Mehmed Pasha (Ottoman Empire); Lorenzo Corner (Venice)
Forces 12 Ottoman galleys against 20 Venetian galleys
Losses Both sides suffered heavy losses; no figures given.
An Ottoman squadron of 12 galleys under Memipaşazade Mehmed Pasha met a Venetian squadron of 20 galleys under Lorenzo Corner at the harbour of Çanak Limanı, west of Candia on Crete. Both sides suffered heavy losses.
Why it is remembered It was one of the galley actions of the Ottoman-Venetian war for Crete, fought close to Candia.
Sources Wikipedia (TR)
Image: Antoine de Fer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Battle of Cádiz (1669) Single-ship action
Also known as The Mary Rose Action; Action of 28 to 29 December 1669
18 to 19 December 1669 · Off Cádiz, south west Spain
Fought between England against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders John Kempthorne (England); unknown (Algiers)
Forces 1 English frigate, 1 ketch and 1 pink escorting merchantmen, against 6 Algerine frigates and 1 sloop
Ships HMS Mary Rose, King David
Losses English: 12 killed and 18 wounded, and the recaptured merchant ship King David taken. Algerines: heavy.
Result English victory
HMS Mary Rose under Rear Admiral John Kempthorne was escorting English merchantmen home from a diplomatic mission to Morocco, towing the recaptured merchant ship King David. Seven Barbary corsairs from Algiers attacked on 18 December; six engaged Mary Rose while one chased King David, which Kempthorne had cut loose. The corsairs withdrew at nightfall, attacked again next morning and withdrew once more, though all three of Mary Rose's masts were damaged. They took only King David.
Why it is remembered The engraver Wenceslaus Hollar was on board and recorded the fight, which appeared in John Ogilby's Africa of 1670 and was later painted by Willem van de Velde the Younger. Kempthorne was knighted for his conduct.
Sources differ The same action appears under the New Style date of 28 to 29 December 1669, placed in the Straits of Gibraltar rather than off Cádiz.
Sources Wikipedia · Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Willem van de Velde the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Anglo-Spanish War (1654 to 1671)
Henry Morgan's raid on Lake Maracaibo Raid
Also known as Sack of Maracaibo; Battle of Lake Maracaibo
16 March to 21 May 1669 · Lake Maracaibo, Province of Venezuela
Fought between English privateers against Spain
Commanders Henry Morgan (England); Alonso del Campo y Espinosa (Spain)
Forces 8 English ships and 500 men against the Armada de Barlovento (1 galleon, 1 patache and 1 frigate) and coastal defences
Losses Spanish: about 400 killed, wounded or captured, 1 galleon sunk, 1 patache captured, 1 frigate burned aground, 10 merchant vessels captured, 2 towns plundered, losses of about £30,000. English: unknown.
Result English victory
English privateers under the buccaneer Henry Morgan entered Lake Maracaibo and sacked the towns of Maracaibo and Gibraltar. The Spanish Armada de Barlovento under Alonso del Campo y Espinosa then trapped them in the lake. Though outgunned, Morgan's fleet destroyed the Spanish squadron on the bar of Maracaibo and slipped past the fortress guarding the lake by a ruse.
Why it is remembered It is one of the best known buccaneer exploits, illustrated in Alexandre Exquemelin's The Buccaneers of America. Morgan returned to Jamaica with a large haul of plunder.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Ahom-Mughal conflicts
Battle of Saraighat Fleet battle
March 1671 · Brahmaputra river at Saraighat, Guwahati, Assam, India
Fought between Ahom Kingdom, supported by the Jaintia and Dimasa kingdoms, against the Mughal Empire and Jaipur State, supported by Koch Behar
Commanders Lachit Borphukan, Chakradhwaj Singha, Udayaditya Singha, Atan Burhagohain (Ahom); Ram Singh I, Munnawar Khan, killed (Mughal)
Forces About 100,000 Ahom militia against a Mughal army of more than 35,000 infantry, 18,000 cavalry, 15,000 archers and shieldmen, 21 Rajput Thakurs with their contingents, and 40 ships
Losses Not stated, beyond the death of the Mughal commander Munnawar Khan.
Result Ahom victory; the Ahoms took Guwahati from the Mughals
The Ahoms drew a Mughal imperial force under Ram Singh I to Saraighat on the Brahmaputra and made a stand there. Though weaker, they used negotiation to gain time, guerrilla tactics and intelligence, and attacked the weakest part of the Mughal forces, their navy. The battle on the river ended the long Mughal siege of Guwahati and pushed the Mughals back west beyond the Manas river.
Why it is remembered It was the last battle of the last major Mughal attempt to extend their empire into Assam. Its commanders became a power group known as the Saraighatias.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Third Anglo-Dutch War and Franco-Dutch War
Battle of Solebay Fleet battle
6 June 1672 (28 May Old Style) · Sole Bay, off Southwold, Suffolk, eastern England
Fought between Dutch Republic against England and France
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter, Adriaen Banckert, Willem Joseph van Ghent, killed (Dutch Republic); James, Duke of York, Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, killed (England); Jean d'Estrées (France)
Forces 61 Dutch ships of the line, 14 frigates, 32 fireships and 22 smaller ships (about 4,500 guns, 20,700 men) against 80 Allied ships of the line, 13 frigates, 24 fireships and 28 smaller ships (6,158 guns, 35,000 to 40,000 men)
Ships Royal James, Prince, St Michael, London, Royal Katherine, Rainbow, De Zeven Provinciën, Eendracht, Groot Hollandia, Dolfijn, Oliphant, Groningen, Jozua, Stavoren, Saint-Philippe, Superbe
Losses Dutch: 1 ship destroyed (Jozua) and 1 captured (Stavoren). Allies: 4 ships destroyed, 2 English and 2 French, among them the Royal James. Sandwich and van Ghent were killed.
Result Dutch strategic victory; the Allies abandoned their planned landing on the Dutch coast
A Dutch fleet under Michiel de Ruyter attacked the combined English and French fleet at anchor in Sole Bay. De Ruyter's De Zeven Provinciën fought the Duke of York's flagship Prince until York had to shift his flag twice. Sandwich's flagship Royal James was set alight by a fireship and sank, and Sandwich died. Fighting went on most of the day and ended at sunset with no clear victor, but the scattered Allied fleet had suffered far more damage.
Why it is remembered It was one of the largest naval battles of the age of sail and stopped the Allied plan to land troops in the Netherlands. Willem van de Velde the Younger painted The Burning of the Royal James, and seven Royal Navy ships have been named HMS Solebay.
Sources differ One account calls it a Dutch strategic victory, while another account says the battle ended without a clear victory. Old Style date 28 May 1672, New Style 6 June 1672.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Willem van de Velde the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
First Battle of Schooneveld Fleet battle
Also known as Première bataille de Schooneveld; Battle of the Flanders Banks
7 June 1673 · Off Schooneveld, coast of the Netherlands
Fought between Dutch Republic against England and France
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter (Dutch Republic); Prince Rupert (England and France)
Forces 52 Allied ships of the line, 11 frigates and 25 fireships against 64 Dutch ships
Losses Allies: 2 ships sunk. Dutch: 1 ship sunk.
Result Dutch victory
Exactly a year after Solebay, the combined English and French fleet under Prince Rupert attacked the Dutch fleet off Schooneveld, on the Dutch coast. Michiel de Ruyter's smaller fleet beat off the attack.
Why it is remembered It was the first of two battles off Schooneveld in June 1673 in which the Dutch held off the Allied fleet.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Romeyn de Hooghe (1645 to 1708), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Third Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Masulipatnam Fleet battle
1 September 1673 (22 August Old Style) · Off Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam), India
Fought between Dutch East India Company against the English East India Company
Commanders Cornelis van Quaelberg (VOC); William Basse (EIC)
Forces 13 Dutch warships against 10 English ships
Losses Dutch: light. English: 3 ships captured; 360 killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
Result Dutch victory
During the siege of São Tomé, a Dutch East India Company squadron of 13 ships met 10 English East India Company ships off Machilipatnam. The Dutch won, taking three English ships.
Why it is remembered It carried the Third Anglo-Dutch War to the Bay of Bengal, between the two trading companies' fleets.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ludolf Bakhuizen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Third Anglo-Dutch War; Franco-Dutch War
Reconquest of New Netherland Landing or siege
Also known as Dutch recapture of New York (1673)
9 August 1673 (30 July 1673 Old Style) · New York (Fort James), present day New York City
Fought between Dutch Republic against England
Commanders Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest, Jacob Binckes, Anthony Colve (Dutch); John Manning (England, surrendered)
Forces Dutch: 9 ships and 600 men. English: 100 soldiers and the fortifications of Fort James.
Losses Dutch: none. English: 100 taken prisoner; deaths unknown.
Result Dutch victory; New Netherland re-established
A combined Dutch fleet from the Admiralties of Zeeland and Amsterdam under Evertsen and Binckes sailed to New York, English since 1667, and forced the surrender of Fort James. The town was renamed New Orange and New Netherland was restored as a Dutch colony under governor general Anthony Colve.
Why it is remembered The Dutch held the colony only briefly: under the Treaty of Westminster of 1674 they returned it to England in exchange for Suriname, and Edmund Andros replaced Colve on 10 November 1674.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Hugo Allard (1627, 1684), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
Battles of Schooneveld Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Schooneveld; Slag bij het Schooneveld
7 and 14 June 1673 · Off the coast of the Netherlands, North Sea
Fought between Dutch Republic against England and France
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter, Cornelis Tromp and Adriaen Banckert (Dutch Republic); Prince Rupert of the Rhine and Edward Spragge (England); Jean II d'Estrées (France)
Forces 64 Dutch ships with 14,762 men and 3,157 guns against 86 Anglo-French ships with 24,295 men and 4,826 guns
Ships Royal Charles
Losses England and France: 2 ships. Dutch: 1 ship.
Result Dutch victory
In two battles a week apart, an Anglo-French fleet under Prince Rupert in his flagship Royal Charles fought the Dutch fleet under Michiel de Ruyter off the Dutch coast. The smaller Dutch fleet won both.
Why it is remembered With the Battle of the Texel that August, these victories saved the Dutch Republic from an Anglo-French invasion. The first battle was painted by Willem van de Velde the Elder.
Sources differ The dates are 7 and 14 June 1673 in the New Style calendar, 28 May and 4 June in the Julian calendar used in England. The action is sometimes listed under 1635.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Willem van de Velde the Elder, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
Second Battle of Schooneveld Fleet battle
Also known as Seconde bataille de Schooneveld; Battle of Walcheren
14 June 1673 · Off Schooneveld, coast of the Netherlands
Fought between Dutch Republic against England and France
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter (Dutch Republic); Prince Rupert, Jean II d'Estrées, Edward Spragge (England and France)
Forces 67 Dutch ships against 84 Allied ships
Result Dutch victory
A week after the first battle, the Dutch fleet under de Ruyter again fought the combined English and French fleet off Schooneveld. The Dutch won the action.
Why it is remembered The victory kept the Netherlands safe from an Anglo-French invasion from the sea.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Romeyn de Hooghe (1645 to 1708), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Third Anglo-Dutch War and Franco-Dutch War
Second Battle of the James River (1673) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Lynnhaven Bay
22 to 23 July 1673 (12 to 13 July Old Style) · Hampton Roads, near the James River, Virginia
Fought between Dutch Republic against England
Commanders Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest and Jacob Binckes (Dutch Republic); Thomas Gardiner (England)
Forces 9 Dutch ships against 8 English ships
Losses Dutch: 3 killed. English: 4 ships captured, and several more not in the battle.
Result Dutch victory
A Dutch fleet under the joint command of Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest and Jacob Binckes met an improvised English squadron under Thomas Gardiner in Hampton Roads. The Dutch won and captured four English ships.
Why it is remembered It was part of the Dutch raid on North America that went on to retake New Netherland for a time.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: http://maps.bpl.org, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Third Anglo-Dutch War and Franco-Dutch War
Battle of Texel (1673) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Kijkduin
21 August 1673 (11 August Old Style) · Off Kijkduin, west coast of Texel, North Sea
Fought between Dutch Republic against England and France
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter, Cornelis Tromp, Adriaen Banckert (Dutch Republic); Prince Rupert, Edward Spragge, killed (England); Jean d'Estrées (France)
Forces 60 Dutch ships of the line, 15 frigates and 22 fireships (4,245 guns, about 20,000 men) against about 100 Allied ships of the line and frigates and 28 fireships (about 6,000 guns, 32,000 men)
Ships De Zeven Provinciën, Gouden Leeuw, Eendracht, Oliphant, Hollandia, Royal Sovereign, Prince, London, Royal Katherine, Charles, Reine, Royale Thérèse, Terrible
Losses Dutch: about 1,000 killed. Allies: about 2,000 killed. No major ships sunk.
Result Dutch victory
De Ruyter, outnumbered, took the weather gauge and sent Banckert's van to separate the French van under d'Estrées, which then played little part. The battle became a long fight between the Dutch and English centres and rears, with Tromp and Spragge duelling repeatedly; Spragge drowned when his boat sank as he shifted his flag for the third time. Both fleets were exhausted and the Allies withdrew.
Why it is remembered It was the last major battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War: it ended Allied hopes of blockading the Republic and let the Dutch spice fleet reach home. Willem van de Velde the Younger painted it in 1707, and it is counted the high point of de Ruyter's career.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Willem van de Velde the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
Invasion of Martinique (1674) Landing or siege
19 to 21 July 1674 · Fort-Royal, Martinique
Fought between Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Michiel de Ruyter (Dutch Republic); Thomas-Claude Renart and Antoine André (France)
Forces 18 Dutch ships of the line, 36 smaller ships and 7,400 men against 1 French frigate, 1 merchant ship and 160 men
Losses Dutch: 461 to 1,300 killed or wounded. French: 6 killed, 10 wounded.
Result French victory
The Dutch Republic sent a large fleet under Michiel de Ruyter to take Martinique from France. The landing at Fort-Royal failed in spite of overwhelming Dutch superiority in men and ships.
Why it is remembered It was a decisive and unexpected French victory over a much larger Dutch force under de Ruyter.
Sources differ Dutch losses are given as anything from 461 to 1,300 killed or wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre Brissart, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
Capture of Noirmoutier Landing or siege
4 July 1674 · Island of Noirmoutier, western France
Fought between Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Cornelis Tromp (Dutch Republic)
Forces 40 Dutch ships and 3,200 soldiers against 800 French soldiers, 6,000 armed farmers, another regiment of 400, 30 cannon and an unknown number of ships
Losses Dutch: 8 to 10 dead and 40 to 45 wounded, or 45 dead and 65 wounded. French: 1 frigate, 2 other vessels and an unknown number of fishing and other boats captured; dead unknown.
Result Dutch victory; the island was occupied
A Dutch fleet under Cornelis Tromp landed troops on the island of Noirmoutier, captured it and occupied it. French shipping at the island was taken.
Why it is remembered It was recorded in a print by Bastiaen Stopendael of Tromp's capture of Belle-Isle and Noirmoutier.
Sources differ Dutch losses: sources give either 8 to 10 dead and 40 to 45 wounded, or 45 dead and 65 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Bastiaen Stopendael, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Third Anglo-Dutch War
Battle of Ronas Voe Single-ship action
14 March 1674 (4 March Old Style) · Ronas Voe, Shetland
Fought between England against the Dutch East India Company
Commanders Arthur Herbert, John Wetwang, Richard Carter (England); Jacob Martens Cloet (VOC)
Forces 1 Dutch East Indiaman against 3 Royal Navy men of war (one third rate and two fourth rates) and a dogger
Ships Wapen van Rotterdam
Losses Dutch: up to 300 dead and the ship captured. English: unknown, no ships lost.
Result English victory
The East Indiaman Wapen van Rotterdam, outward bound with trade goods and a company of soldiers, lost her masts and rudder in heavy weather and sheltered in Ronas Voe for months. An informer told the English, who sent three men of war and a dogger. After a short fight she was captured and taken to England as a prize.
Why it is remembered Fought 23 days after the Treaty of Westminster, it is probably the last battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War. A memorial at Heylor marks the believed graves of the Dutch crew, inscribed The Hollanders' Graves.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ronnie Robertson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
Battle of Stromboli (1675) Fleet battle
Also known as First Battle of Stromboli; Battle of the Lipari Islands; Bataille du Stromboli
11 February 1675 · Off Sicily, near Stromboli and the Lipari Islands
Fought between France against Spain
Commanders Duke of Vivonne, Abraham Duquesne, Marquis de Preuilly d'Humières (France); Marquis de Viso, Melchior de La Cueva (Spain)
Forces 8 French warships, 1 frigate and 3 fireships against 20 Spanish warships and 17 galleys
Result French victory
A French squadron under the Duke of Vivonne, sent to relieve the rebel city of Messina, met a larger Spanish fleet under the Marquis de Viso off Sicily. The French won and the relief went through.
Why it is remembered It was fought to bring French help to the rebel city of Messina. Théodore Gudin painted the relief of Messina on this date.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Théodore Gudin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
Battle of Augusta Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Agosta
22 April 1676 · Off Augusta, Sicily
Fought between France against the Dutch Republic and Spain
Commanders Abraham Duquesne (France); Francisco de la Cerda (Spain); Michiel de Ruyter, mortally wounded (Dutch Republic)
Forces 34 French ships of the line and frigates (1,760 to 2,200 guns) against 27 Dutch and Spanish ships of the line and frigates (1,300 to 1,450 guns)
Losses About 2,000 killed or wounded on each side. No ships lost on either side.
Result Inconclusive
A French fleet under Abraham Duquesne met a combined Dutch and Spanish fleet under Francisco de la Cerda off Augusta. For much of the day only part of each fleet was engaged, and despite heavy casualties and damage no ship was lost. It ended when de Ruyter pulled his squadron clear of superior French numbers, and he was mortally wounded doing so. The fleets parted the next day without renewing the fight.
Why it is remembered Michiel de Ruyter was mortally wounded here while pulling his squadron clear. Ambroise Louis Garneray painted the battle in 1836.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ambroise-Louis Garneray, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Scanian War
Battle of Bornholm (1676) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Jasmund
25 to 26 May 1676 · Between Bornholm and Rügen, off the Jasmund peninsula, Baltic Sea
Fought between Denmark-Norway and the Dutch Republic against Sweden
Commanders Niels Juel, Jens Rodsten (Denmark-Norway); Philip van Almonde (Dutch Republic); Lorentz Creutz, Claes Uggla, Johan Bär (Sweden)
Forces 25 allied ships of the line and 10 frigates against 17 large and 13 medium Swedish ships of the line, 21 smaller vessels and armed merchantmen, and 8 fireships
Ships Konung David, Leopard
Losses Allies: 55 killed, 15 wounded. Swedes: the storeship Konung David captured and burned, the fireship Leopard captured, dead and wounded unknown.
Result Disputed; an allied strategic success
Lorentz Creutz sought to destroy the smaller Danish and Dutch fleet under Niels Juel and then carry reinforcements to Swedish Pomerania. The fleets came within range near Jasmund on the evening of 25 May and fought in line of battle through the next morning without attempting to board. In the afternoon Juel broke off for the Øresund and anchored on Falsterbo reef; Creutz did not pursue.
Why it is remembered Juel's fleet survived intact and was joined two days later by Cornelis Tromp with nine more ships. The failure caused a row between Creutz and his officers, and a week later the Swedes were beaten at Öland.
Sources differ The result is disputed: the Swedes lost only three small vessels, but the allies achieved their aim of keeping their fleet in being.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Attributed to Jacob Coning, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Scanian War
Battle of Öland Fleet battle
Also known as Slaget vid Ölands södra udde
1 June 1676 · Off the east coast of Öland, Baltic Sea
Fought between Denmark-Norway and the Dutch Republic against Sweden
Commanders Cornelis Tromp, Niels Juel (Denmark-Norway); Philips van Almonde (Dutch Republic); Lorentz Creutz, killed, Claes Uggla, killed, Johan Bär (Sweden)
Forces 42 allied warships, 25 of them ships of the line, against 57 Swedish warships, 27 of them ships of the line, with about 12,000 men
Ships Kronan, Svärdet
Losses Allies: 1 fireship and at least 100 dead. Swedes: 5 ships sunk, 6 captured and at least 1,400 dead.
Result Danish and Dutch victory
As the battle began the Swedish flagship Kronan sank, taking almost her whole crew and the Swedish commander, Admiral of the Realm Lorentz Creutz. The allied fleet under the Dutch admiral Cornelis Tromp exploited the confusion. Admiral Claes Uggla's flagship Svärdet was surrounded, battered and set on fire by a fireship, and Uggla drowned; the rest of the Swedish fleet fled.
Why it is remembered It gave Denmark command of the southern Baltic for the rest of the war, allowing a Danish army of 14,500 to land in Scania. Charles XI ordered a commission into the defeat, which found no one responsible.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Claus Møinichen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
Battle of Palermo Fleet battle
2 June 1676 · Off Palermo, Sicily
Fought between France against Spain and the Dutch Republic
Commanders Duke of Mortemart (Vivonne) and Abraham Duquesne (France); Jan den Haen, killed (Dutch Republic); Diego de Ibarra, killed (Spain)
Forces 24 French ships of the line, 5 frigates, 25 galleys and 9 fireships against 14 Spanish and Dutch ships of the line, 13 frigates, 19 galleys and 4 fireships
Losses Spanish and Dutch: about 1,960 killed and wounded, 3 ships of the line, 4 frigates and 2 galleys destroyed. French: about 200 killed and wounded, 9 fireships expended.
Result French victory
A French force sent to support the Messina revolt against Spanish rule attacked the Spanish fleet and its Dutch allies off Palermo. The French fireships destroyed several allied ships, and both the Dutch and Spanish commanders were killed.
Why it is remembered Both allied commanders, Jan den Haen and Diego de Ibarra, were killed. Pierre Puget painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre Puget, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
Battle of Stromboli (1676) Fleet battle
Also known as Second Battle of Stromboli; Battle of Alicudi
8 January 1676 · Off Stromboli, Mediterranean Sea
Fought between France against the Dutch Republic and Spain
Commanders Abraham Duquesne (France); Michiel de Ruyter (Dutch Republic)
Forces 20 French ships of the line and 6 fireships (1,500 guns, 7,200 men) against 19 allied ships of the line or frigates, 18 Dutch and 1 Spanish, with 6 snows and 5 fireships (1,200 guns, 4,800 men)
Losses Dutch and Spanish: 240 killed or wounded and 1 ship of the line sunk. French: 400 killed or wounded.
Result Inconclusive
A French fleet of 20 ships under Abraham Duquesne fought an allied fleet of 18 Dutch ships and one Spanish ship under Michiel de Ruyter off Stromboli. The battle lasted eight hours and ended without a decision.
Why it is remembered The same two fleets met again at Augusta in April 1676. Théodore Gudin painted the battle in 1845.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jean Antoine Théodore Gudin (1802 to 1880), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Dutch War
First Battle of Tobago Fleet battle
3 March 1677 · Off Tobago, Caribbean Sea
Fought between Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Jacob Binckes (Dutch Republic); Jean II d'Estrées (France)
Forces 9 warships and several smaller vessels on each side
Losses French: 2 warships destroyed, 2 captured. Dutch: 1 warship destroyed, 1 sunk.
Result Dutch victory
A French squadron under Jean II d'Estrées attacked the Dutch squadron of Jacob Binckes off Tobago. The Dutch held off the attack and the French lost four warships.
Why it is remembered It was the first of two battles for Tobago in 1677 between the French navy and the Dutch States Navy. Jan Karel Donatus van Beecq painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jan Karel Donatus van Beecq, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Scanian War
Battle of Køge Bay (1677) Fleet battle
Also known as Slaget vid Köge bukt
1 to 2 July 1677 · Køge Bay, south of Copenhagen, Baltic Sea
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Niels Juel (Denmark-Norway); Henrik Horn (Sweden)
Forces 34 Danish-Norwegian ships with 6,700 men against 45 to 47 Swedish ships with 9,200 men
Losses Danes: about 100 dead and 275 wounded. Swedes: 20 ships and about 3,000 wounded, captured and dead.
Result Danish victory
A month after his victory at Møn, Admiral Niels Juel met the main Swedish fleet under Henrik Horn in Køge Bay. Over two days the smaller Danish-Norwegian fleet defeated the Swedes, who lost 20 ships.
Why it is remembered It is regarded as the greatest victory in Danish naval history. Claus Møinichen painted it in 1686.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Claus Møinichen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Scanian War
Battle of Møn Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Fehmarn; Battle of Møns Klint
31 May to 1 June 1677 · Between Møn and the coast of northern Germany, Baltic Sea
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Niels Juel (Denmark-Norway); Erik Sjöblad, captured (Sweden)
Forces 13 Danish-Norwegian men of war (670 guns) against 3 Swedish men of war, 5 armed merchantmen and 4 smaller vessels (394 guns)
Losses Swedes: 8 ships and over 1,500 men dead, wounded or captured, including Admiral Sjöblad. Danes: negligible.
Result Danish-Norwegian victory
A Swedish squadron under Admiral Erik Sjöblad tried to sail from Gothenburg to join the main Swedish fleet in the Baltic. Niels Juel intercepted it with a stronger Danish-Norwegian force and broke it up over two days.
Why it is remembered It stopped the Swedish navy from concentrating, gave Denmark useful prizes, and prepared the way for the victory at Køge Bay a month later. Christian Mølsted painted the battle in 1922.
Sources differ One account gives the date as 31 May 1677; another account gives 31 May to 1 June 1677.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Christian Mølsted, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Action of 30 September 1681 Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1681)
30 September 1681 · Off Cape St. Vincent, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Spain against Brandenburg-Prussia
Commanders Marquess of Villafiel (Spain); Thomas Alders (Brandenburg-Prussia)
Forces 12 Spanish galleons and 3 fireships against 6 Brandenburg ships
Losses Brandenburg: 10 killed and about 30 wounded. Spanish: unknown.
Result Spanish victory
A Brandenburg squadron of six ships under Thomas Alders met a Spanish force of 12 galleons near Cape St. Vincent. After a two hour fight the Brandenburgers were beaten.
Why it is remembered It was a defeat for the Brandenburg navy at the hands of a larger Spanish force.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Lieve Verschuier, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Algerian War (1681 to 1688)
Bombardment of Algiers (1682) Landing or siege
July to August 1682 · Algiers
Fought between France against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders Abraham Duquesne (France); Baba Hassan (Algiers)
Forces About 40 French vessels: 11 ships of the line, 15 galleys, 5 bomb galiots, 2 fireships and smaller craft
Losses Algiers: 500 dead. French: unknown.
Result Algerian victory
After the Dey declared war on France in 1681, Louis XIV sent Duquesne from Toulon with about forty vessels. Delayed by bad weather, he reached Algiers in July 1682 and bombarded the city several times in August, causing great damage. Threatening moves by the corsair captains and bad weather forced him to withdraw to French waters.
Why it is remembered It was the first of three French bombardments of Algiers during the war, and it caused extensive damage to the city.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Algerian War (1681 to 1688)
Bombardment of Algiers (1683) Landing or siege
June to July 1683 · Algiers
Fought between France against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders Abraham Duquesne (France); Baba Hassan, Mezzo Morto (Algiers)
Forces 17 French ships of the line, 3 frigates, 16 galleys, 7 bomb galiots, 48 longboats, 18 fluyts and 8 tartanes
Result Inconclusive
France sent Duquesne back to bombard Algiers a second time. The operation led to the release of more than 100 French prisoners, some after decades of captivity.
Why it is remembered Most Christian captives in Algiers remained in captivity. The release of prisoners was later shown in an engraving after François-Auguste Biard.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Girardet (dessinateur), d'après Briard (peintre), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Raid on Cartagena (1683) Fleet battle
24 December 1683 · Off Cartagena de Indias (modern Colombia)
Fought between Pirates against Spain
Commanders Laurens de Graaf (pirates); Governor Juan de Pando Estrada ordered the Spanish defence
Forces About 800 Spanish men in three commandeered slave ships, San Francisco (40 guns), Paz (34 guns) and a galliot (28 guns); pirate numbers not given
Ships San Francisco (later Fortune, then Neptune), Paz (later Mutine), Francesca
Losses Spanish: about 90 killed, San Francisco run aground, Paz and the galliot captured. Pirates: about 20 killed.
Result Pirate victory
The Spanish at Cartagena sent three hired slave ships with about 800 men against Laurens de Graaf and his pirates. The Spanish were quickly beaten: San Francisco ran aground and Paz and the galliot were taken. De Graaf refloated San Francisco and made her his flagship, then blockaded the town and ransomed his prisoners.
Why it is remembered De Graaf released prisoners on Christmas Day with a note thanking the governor for his Christmas presents. The captured ships were taken into pirate service under new names.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Arnoldus Montanus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Ming-Qing transition
Battle of Penghu Fleet battle
Also known as 澎湖海戰; Battle of the Pescadores
10 to 16 July 1683 · Penghu (the Pescadores), Taiwan Strait
Fought between Qing dynasty against the Kingdom of Tungning
Commanders Shi Lang (Qing); Liu Guoxuan (Tungning)
Forces 238 Qing ships and 21,000 men against more than 200 Tungning ships and 20,000 men
Losses Qing: 329 officers and soldiers killed. Tungning: 12,000 killed or drowned, 4,800 surrendered or captured.
Result Qing victory; Tungning capitulated to the Qing
The Qing admiral Shi Lang led a fleet against the Tungning forces holding Penghu. Each side had more than 200 warships. Liu Guoxuan's fleet was outnumbered and, when his flagship ran out of ammunition, he fled back to Taiwan.
Why it is remembered The loss of Penghu led Zheng Keshuang, the last king of Tungning, to surrender to the Qing dynasty.
Sources differ One account says Liu was outnumbered three to one, while another account gives similar ship numbers for both sides (238 against more than 200).
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Attack on Veracruz Raid
17 to 18 May 1683 · Veracruz, Viceroyalty of New Spain (Mexico)
Fought between Pirates against Spain
Commanders Laurens de Graaf, Nicholas van Hoorn and Michel de Grammont (pirates)
Forces About 1,300 pirates in five large and eight smaller vessels, led by two captured Spanish warships
Losses Not recorded; van Hoorn had a dozen prisoners executed
Result Pirate success; the town was sacked
The pirate fleet arrived off Veracruz on 17 May 1683, led by two captured Spanish warships so that the townsfolk would take it for Spanish. Early the next morning, while most of the militia slept, de Graaf and Yankey Willems disabled the fortifications and van Hoorn's force entered overland; the town was sacked and many hostages taken, the governor among them. When a Spanish treasure fleet appeared on the second day, the pirates withdrew to the Isla de Sacrificios to wait for ransoms, then left, slipping past the Spanish.
Why it is remembered De Graaf and van Hoorn quarrelled and fought a duel; van Hoorn was wounded and died of gangrene soon after.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Spanish War of 1683 to 1684
Battle of Cap Corse Single-ship action
Also known as Бой у Кап-Корса
10 July 1684 · Off Cap Corse, northern Corsica
Fought between France against Spain and Genoa
Forces 1 French ship of the line, Le Bon, against 35 Spanish and Genoese galleys
Ships Le Bon
The French ship of the line Le Bon fought 35 Spanish and Genoese galleys off the north coast of Corsica.
Why it is remembered It pitted a single French sailing warship against a large galley force.
Sources Wikipedia (RU)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Reunions
Bombardment of Genoa Landing or siege
18 to 28 May 1684 · Genoa, Ligurian coast of Italy
Fought between France against the Republic of Genoa and Spain
Commanders Abraham Duquesne (France); Carlo Tasso and Juan Maria Doria (Genoa); Juan Tomas Enriquez de Cabrera (Spain)
Forces France: 14 ships of the line, 19 galleys, 10 bomb vessels, 2 fireships, 2 troop carriers and 97 tartanes and skiffs, possibly up to 160 vessels with 756 guns in all
Losses No casualty figures are given. The city suffered heavy damage, and a French landing of about 3,500 troops was defeated
Result Inconclusive
Genoa was Spain's link to landlocked Milan, and France decided to punish it after Spanish reinforcements passed through the port. Duquesne's fleet entered the harbour exchanging salutes; the Marquis of Seignelay, sailing with it, demanded four galleys and an apology, and when Genoa refused the bombardment began. A French landing of about 3,500 men at Albaro and Sampierdarena was beaten back by Genoese troops, local volunteers and a Spanish tercio. The bombardment stopped when the French ran out of powder, after about 16,000 balls had struck the city, and the fleet returned to Toulon.
Why it is remembered The attack caused outrage across Europe and helped bring Spain, the Dutch Republic and several German states together against Louis XIV, in an alliance that became the League of Augsburg in 1688.
Sources differ One account gives 18 to 28 May; another account has the fleet entering the port on 17 May and the bombardment ending on 29 May.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Beaulieu_le_Donjon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Ottoman-Venetian War of 1684 to 1699
Battle of Cape Baba (1686) Fleet battle
Also known as Bababurnu Deniz Muharebesi
4 October 1686 · Off Cape Baba (Bababurnu), Aegean Sea
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Venice
Commanders Mısırlızade İbrahim Pasha (Ottoman Empire); Admiral Venier (Venice)
Losses No ships lost on either side; Venetian ships damaged.
Result Ottoman tactical victory
The Ottoman fleet under Mısırlızade İbrahim Pasha met the Venetian fleet under Admiral Venier off Cape Baba. Neither side gained the upper hand, and the outnumbered Venetians, their ships damaged, withdrew.
Why it is remembered It was the second inconclusive meeting of the two fleets in 1686.
Sources Wikipedia (TR)
Image: Piri Reis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Ottoman-Venetian War of 1684 to 1699
Battle of Icaria (1686) Fleet battle
Also known as Ahikerya Deniz Muharebesi
20 July 1686 · Off the island of Icaria, Aegean Sea
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Venice
Commanders Mısırlızade İbrahim Pasha (Ottoman Empire); Admiral Venier (Venice)
Result Ottoman tactical victory
The Ottoman fleet under the Kapudan Pasha Mısırlızade İbrahim Pasha met the Venetian fleet under Admiral Venier off Icaria. Neither side gained the upper hand.
Why it is remembered It was one of the fleet actions of the Ottoman-Venetian War of 1684 to 1699 in the Aegean.
Sources differ The source calls it an Ottoman tactical victory while also saying neither side gained superiority.
Sources Wikipedia (TR)
Image: Piri Reis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Franco-Algerian War (1681 to 1688)
Bombardment of Algiers (1688) Landing or siege
June to July 1688 · Algiers
Fought between France against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders Jean II d'Estrées (France); Mezzo Morto Hüseyin Pasha (Algiers)
Forces 31 French warships and 10 bomb galiots
Losses French: several ships lost.
Result Algerian victory
Louis XIV sent a squadron under Jean II d'Estrées to enforce the peace treaty of 1683, broken by Algerian corsairs. Arriving on 26 June, the French did serious damage to the city, but its strengthened shore batteries cost them several ships. After 16 days they withdrew without enforcing the treaty.
Why it is remembered It was the last of three French bombardments of Algiers in the 1680s.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Arrest attempt of Jørgen Bjørn Other action
29 February 1688 · Off Ascension Island, South Atlantic
Fought between Governor of Danish India against the crew of Antoinetta
Commanders Wolf Henrik von Kalnein (Danish India); Jørgen Bjørn (Antoinetta)
Forces 2 armed vessels against 1 ship
Ships Antoinetta, Flyvende Ulv
Losses None on either side.
Result Antoinetta drove off the attempt
On the voyage home from Tranquebar a quarrel arose between Governor Wolf Henrik von Kalnein and Captain Jørgen Bjørn. Off Ascension Island Bjørn refused a summons to the governor's ship, and von Kalnein sent two armed vessels against his ship Antoinetta. After a brief exchange of fire they were driven off, and Antoinetta left the fleet and sailed for Copenhagen alone.
Why it is remembered It was an armed clash between ships of the same Danish colonial fleet, ended without casualties.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Tinkaer1991, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War and Williamite War in Ireland
Battle of Bantry Bay Fleet battle
11 May 1689 · Bantry Bay, south west Ireland
Fought between France against England
Commanders François Louis Rousselet de Châteaurenault (France); Arthur Herbert (England)
Forces 19 to 22 French warships against 24 English warships
Losses French: 40 killed, 93 wounded. English: 94 killed, about 300 wounded.
Result French victory
A French fleet under Châteaurenault was landing supplies for James II's campaign in Ireland when Arthur Herbert's English fleet attacked. The French completed the landing and did considerable damage to Herbert's ships, but did not follow up their success.
Why it is remembered Apart from inshore fighting at La Rochelle, it was the first fleet action between the English and French navies since 1545, fought a week before war was declared.
Sources differ One account calls the battle somewhat inconclusive; another account gives a French victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Adriaen van Diest, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Battle of Beachy Head (1690) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Béveziers
10 July 1690 · Off Beachy Head, English Channel
Fought between France against England and the Dutch Republic
Commanders Anne Hilarion de Tourville, Châteaurenault, Jean d'Estrées, Claude de Forbin (France); Arthur Herbert, Earl of Torrington, Ralph Delaval (England); Cornelis Evertsen (Dutch Republic)
Forces 75 French ships with 28,000 men against 56 Anglo-Dutch ships with 23,000 men
Ships Soleil Royal, Friesland, Anne, Noorderkwartier, Gekroonde Burg, Maagd van Enkhuizen, Elswout, Tholen, Wapen van Utrecht, Suikermolen, Kroonvogel
Losses French: no ships lost, casualties unknown. Allies: 2,350 to 4,000 killed or wounded; the Dutch lost seven ships of the line and three fireships, the English one ship of the line (Anne, burnt to avoid capture).
Result French victory
Torrington, ordered to fight a larger French fleet, advanced with the Dutch in the van. The Dutch engaged the leading French squadron but were cut up when part of Châteaurenault's squadron crossed their path, while Torrington's centre failed to close. After about eight hours the Dutch anchored to drop out of range, and when the tide turned the Allies withdrew towards the Thames, burning damaged ships as they went. Tourville followed cautiously rather than ordering a general chase.
Why it is remembered It was the most significant French naval victory of the war and gave France brief control of the Channel. Tourville was relieved for not pursuing, and Torrington was court-martialled, acquitted and then dismissed by William III.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Gustave Alaux, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Turkish War and Morean War
Battle of Mytilene (1690) Fleet battle
Also known as Battaglia di Metelino
8 September 1690 · Off Mytilene, Lesbos, Aegean Sea
Fought between Venice against the Ottoman Empire and the Barbary regencies of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli
Commanders Daniele Dolfin, wounded, and Giovanni Buggie, killed (Venice); unknown (Ottoman and Barbary)
Forces 12 Venetian sailing ships against 9 Ottoman and Barbary sailing ships and 23 galleys
Ships Redentor del Mondo
Losses Venetians: 12 to 20 killed, Redentor del Mondo damaged. Ottomans and Barbary: at most 300 killed, 3 ships damaged or destroyed.
Result Venetian victory
A Venetian fleet of sailing ships under Daniele Dolfin met a combined Ottoman and Barbary fleet off Mytilene. The Venetians won, though Dolfin was wounded and Giovanni Buggie killed.
Why it is remembered The defeat led Sultan Suleiman II to end Ottoman reliance on the Barbary corsairs. An anonymous painting of the battle hangs in the Museo Correr in Venice.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Didier Descouens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · King William's War
Naval battle off St. John (1691) Single-ship action
22 September 1691 · Bay of Fundy, off present day Saint John, New Brunswick
Fought between France against England
Commanders Joseph Robineau de Villebon (France); Edward Tyng and John Alden (England)
Forces 1 French frigate against 1 English ketch
Losses English: 4 taken prisoner. French: none.
Result French victory
An English ketch carrying Edward Tyng, the new English governor of Acadia, met a French frigate carrying the French governor of Acadia, Joseph Robineau de Villebon, off Saint John. The French took four English prisoners.
Why it is remembered It was a meeting at sea of the English and French governors of Acadia, each sailing to take up his post.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: John Smybert (1688 to 1751), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Action at Barfleur Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Barfleur
29 May 1692 (19 May Old Style) · Off Cape Barfleur, Cotentin Peninsula, English Channel
Fought between England and the Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Edward Russell, Philips van Almonde (England and Dutch Republic); Anne Hilarion de Tourville (France)
Forces 82 Anglo-Dutch ships of the line with 40,000 men against 44 French ships of the line with 20,000 men
Ships Soleil Royal, L'Ambitieux
Losses Allies: 2,000 killed and 3,000 wounded. French: 1,700 killed or wounded. No ships in the battle lines were lost.
Result Inconclusive
Tourville's fleet, meant to cover a French invasion of England to restore James II, met the combined Anglo-Dutch fleet of 82 ships off Cape Barfleur. Holding the weather gauge, Tourville attacked and the two fleets bombarded each other for hours; a wind shift let Shovell break the French line, and a fireship attack followed in the evening. Most ships on both sides were damaged but none was lost, and Tourville withdrew on the turn of the tide with Russell in pursuit.
Why it is remembered It opened the pursuit that destroyed fifteen French ships at Cherbourg and La Hougue. The French still regard Barfleur as a victory. Ludolf Bakhuizen painted it around 1693.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ludolf Bakhuizen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Action at Cherbourg (1692) Raid
1 to 2 June 1692 (21 to 22 May Old Style) · Cherbourg, Normandy
Fought between England and the Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Ralph Delaval (England); Anne Hilarion de Tourville (France)
Forces 11 English ships of the line and 3 fireships against 3 French ships of the line, 2 frigates and 1 fireship
Ships Soleil Royal, Admirable, Triomphant
Losses French: 3 ships of the line, 2 frigates and 1 fireship destroyed. Allies: 3 fireships expended.
Result Anglo-Dutch victory
After Barfleur, three badly damaged French ships, among them Tourville's former flagship Soleil Royal, were beached at Cherbourg. Vice Admiral Ralph Delaval attacked them with boats and fireships and destroyed them.
Why it is remembered Tourville's flagship Soleil Royal was destroyed here; Adriaen van Diest painted her destruction around 1700.
Sources differ One account dates the action 21 to 22 May Old Style; another gives 21 to 24 May; a history of the campaign says the ships were beached on 23 May and destroyed the next day.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Adriaen van Diest, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Action at La Hogue (1692) Raid
Also known as Battle of La Hougue; Battle of La Hogue
2 to 3 June 1692 (23 to 24 May Old Style) · Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Normandy
Fought between England and the Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Edward Russell, Philips van Almonde (England and Dutch Republic); Anne Hilarion de Tourville (France)
Forces 14 Anglo-Dutch ships of the line against 12 French ships of the line
Losses French: 12 ships of the line destroyed. Allies: unknown.
Result Anglo-Dutch victory
After the Battle of Barfleur the Anglo-Dutch fleet under Edward Russell pursued the French. Twelve French ships of the line had been beached near Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue under the protection of troops and a battery. English and Dutch boats and fireships went in and burned all twelve.
Why it is remembered The English remember the whole campaign by this action. Benjamin West painted The Battle of La Hogue around 1778.
Sources differ One account dates the action 21 to 24 May 1692, another 3 to 4 June, and others 23 May Old Style; the gap is largely the Old Style and New Style calendars.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Adriaen van Diest, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue Fleet battle
Also known as Bataille de la Hougue
29 May to 14 June 1692 (19 May to 4 June Old Style) · English Channel off Cape Barfleur, Cherbourg and Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Normandy
Fought between England and the Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Edward Russell, Philips van Almonde (England and Dutch Republic); Anne Hilarion de Tourville, Bernardin Gigault de Bellefonds (France)
Forces 82 Anglo-Dutch ships of the line and 3 fireships with 39,000 men against 44 French ships of the line, 2 frigates and 1 fireship with 21,000 men
Ships Soleil Royal, L'Ambitieux, Admirable, Triomphant, Monarque, Aimable, Entendu
Losses Allies: 5,000 killed or wounded, 3 fireships. French: 5,000 killed or wounded, 15 ships of the line, 2 frigates and 1 fireship destroyed.
Result Anglo-Dutch victory
Tourville's 44 ships of the line were to carry an invasion force under Bellefonds to restore James II, but the English and Dutch fleets had already joined, 82 strong, when he met them off Cape Barfleur. He attacked as ordered and did heavy damage, then disengaged. The Allies pursued the outnumbered French into Cherbourg and La Hougue, where boats and fireships burned the beached ships.
Why it is remembered Fifteen French ships were destroyed and the threat of invasion ended. Winston Churchill called it the Trafalgar of the seventeenth century, and Benjamin West painted The Battle of La Hogue.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Benjamin West, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Battle of Lagos (1693) Convoy battle
Also known as Smyrna convoy action
27 June 1693 (17 June Old Style) · Off Lagos Bay, Portugal
Fought between France against England and the Dutch Republic
Commanders Anne Hilarion de Tourville (France); George Rooke (England); Philips van der Goes (Dutch Republic)
Forces 70 French ships of the line, 30 smaller warships and 30,000 men against 21 Anglo-Dutch ships of the line, 1 frigate, 5 smaller warships and 15,000 men, escorting 200 merchant ships
Losses French: 500 killed or wounded. Allies: 2,500 killed or wounded, 2,000 captured, 2 ships of the line captured, 1 destroyed, 40 merchant ships captured and 50 destroyed.
Result French victory
George Rooke's squadron was escorting the large Smyrna convoy when Tourville's much larger French fleet caught it near Lagos Bay. The French took and destroyed many merchant ships and three warships.
Why it is remembered The Smyrna convoy lost about 90 merchant ships captured or destroyed. Théodore Gudin painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Théodore Gudin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Battle of Camaret Landing or siege
Also known as Brest expedition; Attack on Brest
18 June 1694 · Camaret Bay, near Brest, Brittany
Fought between England and the Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Thomas Tollemache, died of wounds, and the Marquess of Carmarthen (England); Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (France)
Forces 10,000 to 12,000 Anglo-Dutch troops, 36 ships of the line, 12 bomb ships and 40 or 80 transports, against 1,300 French troops with 265 guns and 17 mortars
Losses Allies: 1,100 killed or 1,200 killed or wounded and 466 captured, or 2,000 killed or wounded and 1,000 captured; 1 ship of the line sunk and another captured; many boats lost, 48 captured. French: 45 wounded.
Result French victory
Expecting Brest to be unguarded while the French fleet was away in the south, an Anglo-Dutch force of about 10,000 men tried to land at Camaret Bay and take the naval base. The French knew of the plan through spies. Allied ships exchanged heavy fire with French shore batteries, and the landing party was thrown back by a French counter-attack.
Why it is remembered It was the only field command of the military engineer Vauban. A disputed theory holds that John Churchill leaked the plan to James II.
Sources differ Allied losses are given as 1,100 killed, or 1,200 killed or wounded with 466 captured, or 2,000 killed or wounded with 1,000 captured. Troop transports given as 40 or 80.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Basire, James [engraver], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Omani-Portuguese conflicts
Battle of Daman (1694) Fleet battle
23 March 1694 · At sea off Daman, Arabian Sea
Fought between Portugal against Oman
Commanders António Machado de Brito (Portugal); unknown (Oman)
Forces 1 Portuguese ship of the line, 2 frigates and 1 galiot against 8 Omani ships of the line and 6 frigates
Losses Portuguese: light. Omanis: 3 frigates sunk, 1 ship of the line so badly damaged she sank the next day, 600 killed.
Result Portuguese victory
A Portuguese squadron under General António Machado de Brito pursued and attacked an Omani squadron sailing off Daman. Though heavily outnumbered, the Portuguese sank three frigates and crippled a ship of the line.
Why it is remembered It was a Portuguese victory at sea over a much larger Omani squadron during the Omani-Portuguese conflicts.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: RESENDE, Pedro Barreto de, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Battle of Texel (1694) Convoy battle
Also known as Combat du Texel
29 June 1694 · Off Texel, North Sea
Fought between France against the Dutch Republic
Commanders Jean Bart (France); Hidde Sjoerds de Vries, died of wounds (Dutch Republic)
Forces 7 or 8 French frigates against 8 Dutch frigates guarding 120 merchant ships
Losses French: 66 killed or wounded. Dutch: 229 killed or wounded, 455 captured, 3 frigates captured.
Result French victory
A French convoy had been taken by the Dutch earlier in the month. Jean Bart attacked the Dutch escort under Hidde Sjoerds de Vries off Texel, recaptured the convoy and took three of the escorting ships. De Vries was captured and died of his wounds soon after.
Why it is remembered Jean Bart won back the French convoy against an equal escort. Eugène Isabey painted the battle in 1839.
Sources differ One account gives Bart eight ships; another account gives seven frigates.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Eugène Isabey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Action of 10 August 1695 Single-ship action
10 August 1695 · Strait of Dover
Fought between England against Sweden
Commanders Richard Culliford, Richard Athy (England); Erik Ribbing, died of wounds (Sweden)
Forces 2 English frigates and 2 brigantines against 1 Swedish ship of the line
Ships Wachtmeister
Losses English: several killed, 1 frigate damaged. Swedes: 4 killed, 3 wounded and the ship captured.
Result English victory
The Swedish warship Wachtmeister met a squadron of four Royal Navy ships in the Strait of Dover. After a skirmish the English captured her, and her captain Erik Ribbing died of his wounds.
Why it is remembered It was a clash between English and Swedish warships during the Nine Years' War that ended in the capture of Wachtmeister.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Action of 18 April 1695 Single-ship action
18 April 1695 · Off the coast of Sussex
Fought between Sweden and Denmark-Norway against England
Commanders Gustaf Wattrang (Sweden); Anthony Tollett (England)
Forces 1 Swedish man of war, Wachtmeister, escorting a Danish and Swedish convoy, against 1 English frigate, Seahorse
Ships Wachtmeister, Seahorse
Losses Swedes: none. English: Seahorse damaged, several wounded.
Result Swedish and Danish victory
The English frigate Seahorse demanded that the Swedish man of war Wachtmeister lower her topsail in salute. Wachtmeister refused and a four hour exchange of fire followed, after which Seahorse withdrew and the Danish and Swedish convoy went on.
Why it is remembered It arose from an English demand for a salute in English waters. Four months later Wachtmeister was captured by an English squadron in the Strait of Dover.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ludvig Richarde, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Anglo-Swedish skirmish (1695) Single-ship action
December 1695 · At sea, on passage to Portugal
Fought between England against Sweden
Commanders Per Olofsson (Sweden); English commanders unknown
Forces 2 English ships, HMS Burlington and Siren, against the Swedish ship Livland
Ships Livland, HMS Burlington, Siren
Losses Swedes: several killed and wounded; Livland damaged, captured and later released. English: unknown.
Result English victory
The Swedish ship Livland under Per Olofsson refused to salute two English ships, Burlington and Siren. The refusal led to a fight in which Livland was damaged and captured; she was later released.
Why it is remembered It arose from a Swedish captain's refusal to salute English warships.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Morean War (Sixth Ottoman-Venetian War)
Battle of the Oinousses Islands Fleet battle
Also known as Battaglia di Spalmadori; Koyun Adaları
9 and 19 February 1695 · Near the Oinousses Islands, off Cape Karaburun, western Anatolia
Fought between Venice against the Regency of Algiers and the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Antonio Zeno (Venice); Mezzo Morto Hüseyin Pasha (Algiers)
Forces 21 Venetian sailing ships, 5 galleasses and 21 galleys against 20 sailing ships and 24 galleys
Ships San Vittorio, Fama Volante
Losses First action, Venetians: 3 ships lost; 142 killed and 300 wounded on the sailing ships and 323 killed and 303 wounded on the galleys. Second action, Venetians: 132 dead, Fama Volante damaged; 2 Ottoman sailing ships damaged.
Result Algerian victory; Venice abandoned Chios
A Venetian fleet under Antonio Zeno fought the Algerian fleet of Mezzo Morto Hüseyin twice near the Oinousses. The first action on 9 February was a Venetian defeat with three ships lost. The second, on 19 February, with the Venetians weakened by those losses and the absence of the damaged San Vittorio, was a draw.
Why it is remembered The defeat made the Venetian hold on Chios, taken only months before, untenable, and Zeno abandoned the island.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Andreas Matthäus Wolfgang, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Golden Age of Piracy
Capture of the Grand Mughal Fleet Blockade and raiding
Also known as Capture of the Ganj-i-Sawai
About 7 September 1695 · Off Perim, Strait of Mandeb
Fought between English pirates against the Mughal Empire
Commanders Henry Every, Thomas Tew, Richard Want, Joseph Faro, Thomas Wake, William Maze (pirates); Muhammad Ibrahim, captured (Mughal Empire)
Forces 6 pirate ships: the frigate Fancy (46 guns), the sloop Amity, the brigantines Dolphin and Pearl, Susannah and Portsmouth Adventure, against a Mughal pilgrim convoy of 25 ships including Ganj-i-Sawai and her escort Fateh Muhammed
Ships Fancy, Amity, Dolphin, Pearl, Susannah, Portsmouth Adventure, Ganj-i-Sawai, Fateh Muhammed
Losses Pirates: several killed. Mughal: 2 ships captured, several crew captured and killed.
Result Pirate victory
In August 1695 Henry Every in the 46-gun Fancy reached the Mandab Strait and joined five other pirate ships. The Mughal pilgrim convoy of 25 ships slipped past at night, but next day the pirates caught two stragglers bound for Surat, the treasure ship Ganj-i-Sawai and her escort Fateh Muhammed. They looted up to £600,000 in precious metals and jewels.
Why it is remembered It badly damaged English relations with the Mughals and led to a £1,000 bounty and the first global manhunt in recorded history. Every was never caught and his treasure was never found.
Sources differ One account names one captain William May; another account gives William Maze.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Peter Newark Historical Pictures, Bridgeman Images, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Morean War
Battle of Zeytinburnu Fleet battle
Also known as Zeytinburnu Deniz Muharebesi
18 September 1695 · Off Lesbos, Aegean Sea
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Venice
Commanders Mezzomorto, Abdülkadir Pasha (Ottoman Empire); Girolamo Michele, killed, Giovanni Zeno, killed (Venice)
Forces 33 Ottoman galleons against 33 Venetian galleons and 6 barges
Losses Ottomans: 300 killed and wounded. Venetians: 5,000 killed and wounded.
Result Ottoman victory
The Ottoman fleet under Mezzomorto met the Venetian fleet off Lesbos and inflicted a heavy defeat. Both Venetian commanders were killed.
Why it is remembered It was a heavy Venetian defeat in the Aegean, coming months after the loss of Chios.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Andreas Matthäus Wolfgang, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Morean War
Battle of Andros (1696) Fleet battle
22 August 1696 · West of the island of Andros, Aegean Sea
Fought between Venice and the Papal States against the Ottoman Empire and its Barbary vassals
Commanders Bartolomeo Contarini (Venice); Mezzo Morto Hüseyin Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Losses No ships lost on either side.
Result Indecisive
The fleets of Venice and the Papal States under Bartolomeo Contarini met the Ottoman navy and its Barbary vassals under Mezzo Morto Hüseyin Pasha west of Andros. The encounter was indecisive and neither side lost a ship.
Why it is remembered It was one of the series of Aegean fleet actions between Venice and the Ottomans in the 1690s.
Sources differ One account calls the battle indecisive; another account records a Venetian victory.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Andreas Matthäus Wolfgang, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Battle of Dogger Bank (1696) Convoy battle
17 June 1696 · Dogger Bank, North Sea
Fought between France against the Dutch Republic
Commanders Jean Bart (France); Rutger Bucking, killed (Dutch Republic)
Forces 7 French frigates, 1 fireship, 2 longboats and 2 privateers against 5 Dutch frigates escorting 112 merchant ships
Losses French: 31 killed and wounded. Dutch: 1 frigate captured, 4 frigates destroyed, 25 merchant ships destroyed, 1,200 captured.
Result French victory
Jean Bart's squadron of seven ships attacked a Dutch convoy coming from the Baltic, guarded by five frigates. The French took or destroyed the whole escort and burned 25 merchant ships.
Why it is remembered It was another of Jean Bart's successes against Dutch convoys in the North Sea, shown in an 1806 print by Yves-Marie Le Gouaz.
Sources differ The print's title dates the action 18 June 1696; the main account gives 17 June.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Moroccan-Portuguese conflicts
Battle of Mamora (1696) Single-ship action
Summer 1696 · Off Mamora (Mehdya), Morocco
Fought between Portugal against the Sultanate of Morocco
Commanders Francisco Carvalho (Portugal)
Forces 1 Portuguese frigate against many Moroccan vessels
Losses Unknown on both sides.
Result Portuguese victory
A Portuguese frigate under Francisco Carvalho fought Moroccan vessels off Mamora and drove them off.
Why it is remembered It was a small Portuguese success at sea in the Moroccan-Portuguese conflicts.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · King William's War
Naval battle off St. John (1696) Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of Fundy Bay; Bataille de la baie de Fundy
14 July 1696 · Bay of Fundy, off present day Saint John, New Brunswick
Fought between France against England
Commanders Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville (France); Captain Eames and Captain Paxen (England)
Forces 2 French ships of the line, Envieux and Profond, against 2 English frigates, Newport (24 guns) and Sorlings (34 guns), and a provincial tender
Ships Envieux, Profond, Newport, Sorlings
Losses English: Newport captured. French: none.
Result French victory
English ships sent from Boston tried to stop Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville carrying supplies from Quebec to Fort Nashwaak, the capital of Acadia. The French warships Envieux and Profond captured the frigate Newport, while Sorlings and the tender escaped.
Why it is remembered D'Iberville's two warships took an English frigate sent to stop French supplies reaching the capital of Acadia.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Morean War (Great Turkish War)
Action of 6 July 1697 Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Lemnos (1697); Bozcaada Deniz Muharebesi (1697)
6 July 1697 · Near Lemnos, Aegean Sea
Fought between Venice against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Bartolomeo Contarini (Venice)
Forces About 26 battleships on each side with smaller vessels; the Ottomans had 1 three-decker, 25 other battleships, 19 galliots and 2 fireships
Ships San Lorenzo Giustinian, Aurora, San Domenico, Sole d'Oro
Losses Venetians: 71 killed and 163 wounded. Ottomans: 1 galliot and 1 galley captured.
In 1697 the Venetian fleet under Bartolomeo Contarini hunted the Ottoman fleet through the Aegean in a series of battles. In the first, near Lemnos on 6 July, the two fleets of about 26 battleships each met, and the Venetians took an Ottoman galliot and a galley.
Why it is remembered It opened the 1697 series of Aegean fleet actions between Venice and the Ottomans.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Morean War (Venetian-Turkish War of 1683 to 1699, part of the Great Turkish War)
Battle of Andros (1697) Fleet battle
Also known as Bitwa morska pod Andros
1 September 1697 · Between Andros and Euboea, Aegean Sea
Fought between Venice against the Ottoman Empire
Forces 27 Venetian sailing ships, 2 merchantmen, several galleys and 2 fireships (about 1,700 guns) against 20 Ottoman sailing ships (one three-decker of 70 to 80 guns, 19 of 50 to 60 guns), several galliots and 2 fireships
Ships San Sebastiano
Losses Venetians: the 68-gun San Sebastiano blew up for unknown reasons just after the battle.
The Venetian and Ottoman fleets fought between Andros and Euboea. On 1 or 2 September, just after the battle, the Venetian 68-gun San Sebastiano exploded from an unknown cause.
Why it is remembered It is remembered for the loss of San Sebastiano.
Sources Wikipedia (PL)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Nine Years' War
Raid on Cartagena de Indias (1697) Landing or siege
Also known as Expédition de Carthagène
6 to 24 May 1697 · Cartagena de Indias (modern Colombia)
Fought between France and buccaneers against Spain
Commanders Bernard Desjean, Baron de Pointis (France)
Forces 7 French capital ships, 3 frigates and smaller vessels, with 1,200 soldiers and 650 buccaneers
Losses French: 60 men in taking the fortresses; hundreds of sailors later died of yellow fever. Spanish: not stated.
Result French victory; the city was plundered
A French fleet under the Baron de Pointis sailed from Brest in January 1697 and, joined by buccaneers from Saint-Domingue, appeared before Cartagena. Pointis took both fortresses defending the city fairly easily and plundered it from 6 to 24 May. He then sailed for France without paying the buccaneers their share, and they went back and sacked the city again.
Why it is remembered The plunder was estimated at 10 to 20 million livres. A ship taken by the English on the way home carried yellow fever, which killed 1,300 English sailors and Admiral John Nevell himself.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre Landry (1630 to 1701), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · King William's War (Nine Years' War)
Battle of Hudson's Bay Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of York Factory
5 September 1697 · Off York Factory, Hudson Bay (present day Manitoba, Canada)
Fought between France against England
Commanders Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville (France); John Fletcher (England)
Forces 1 French ship of the line, Pélican, against 1 English ship of the line and 2 frigates
Ships Pélican
Losses French: Pélican scuttled. English: 1 ship of the line destroyed, 1 frigate captured.
Result French victory
A single French warship under Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville fought an English squadron of three ships under Captain John Fletcher off York Factory. D'Iberville destroyed one English ship and captured another, though his own ship was later lost.
Why it is remembered As a result the French took York Factory, a Hudson's Bay Company trading post. The sinking of the Pélican was drawn by Bacqueville de la Potherie.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Sixth Ottoman-Venetian War (War of the Holy League)
Battle of Samothrace (1698) Fleet battle
Also known as Battaglia di Metellino
20 September 1698 · Near Samothrace, northern Aegean Sea
Fought between Venice against the Ottoman Empire with Tripoli and Tunis
Forces 20 Venetian ships against 25 Ottoman ships and 7 Tripolitanian and Tunisian vessels
Ships Rizzo d'Oro
Losses Venetians: 299 killed, 622 wounded. Ottomans: unknown.
Result Inconclusive
A Venetian fleet fought the Ottoman fleet and its Tripolitanian and Tunisian allies near Samothrace. The battle ended in stalemate, with the Venetian Rizzo d'Oro dismasted.
Why it is remembered It was the last significant battle of the Great Turkish War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Giuseppe Lorenzo Gatteri and Francesco Zanotto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Ottoman-Venetian War (War of the Holy League, 1684 to 1699)
Battle of Tenedos (1698) Fleet battle
Also known as Bozcaada Deniz Muharebesi (1698)
14 June 1698 · Off Tenedos (Bozcaada), northern Aegean Sea
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Venice
Commanders Mezzomorto Hüseyin Pasha (Ottoman Empire); Admiral Molino (Venice)
The Ottoman fleet under the Kapudan Pasha Mezzomorto Hüseyin Pasha fought the Venetian fleet under Admiral Molino in the northern Aegean.
Why it is remembered It was one of the last fleet actions of the Ottoman-Venetian war that ended in 1699.
Sources Wikipedia (TR)
Image: Andreas Matthäus Wolfgang, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Action of 15 February 1700 Single-ship action
15 February 1700 · Off Correnti island, Sicily
Fought between Order of Saint John (Malta) against Ottoman Tunis
Commanders Bailly Spinola (Malta)
Forces 1 Maltese galley with 700 men against 1 Tunisian ship
Losses Maltese: the galley destroyed and 522 killed. Tunisians: unknown.
Result Tunisian victory
A Maltese galley met a Tunisian ship off Correnti island. The galley was wrecked in a collision, and most of her crew were killed.
Why it is remembered It was a disaster for the Order of Saint John, with 522 men lost from a single galley.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: user:shakko, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Action of August 1702 Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Santa Marta
19 to 25 August 1702 (Old Style) · Off Santa Marta, Caribbean Sea
Fought between England against France
Commanders John Benbow (England); Jean-Baptiste du Casse (France)
Forces 7 English ships of the line against 5 French ships of the line, 1 fireship, 4 sloops, 1 galley and 1 transport
Losses French: 1 galley captured. English: unknown; Benbow lost a leg and died of illness about two months later.
Result Inconclusive
John Benbow's squadron caught du Casse's smaller French squadron off Santa Marta and chased it for several days. Many of Benbow's captains refused to engage fully, and one came aboard to urge him to give up the chase. Du Casse escaped almost intact, losing only a galley.
Why it is remembered Two captains, Richard Kirkby and Cooper Wade, were convicted of cowardice and shot. Benbow's last fight inspired ballads such as Admiral Benbow, still sung by British sailors a century later.
Sources differ One account says the squadron sighted the French on 19 June, while another account dates the action 19 to 25 August 1702.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Naval battles on Lake Ladoga (1702) Fleet battle
Also known as Seegefechte auf dem Ladogasee
26 June and 7 September 1702 (15 June and 27 August Julian) · Lake Ladoga
Fought between Russia against Sweden
Commanders Colonel Tirtoff (Russia); Vice Admiral Gideon von Numers (Sweden)
Forces 26 June: 400 Russian soldiers in 18 boats; 7 September: 30 boats; against a Swedish flotilla of 3 brigantines, 3 galleys and 2 boats
Losses Swedes: 5 boats and 300 men.
Result Russian victories on both dates
In two actions small Russian flotillas of the newly built Russian navy fought the Swedish flotilla on Lake Ladoga. Hundreds of small Russian boats forced the Swedish flotilla to withdraw from the lake.
Why it is remembered Russia won control of Lake Ladoga, which covered its land campaign to take the Neva region.
Sources Wikipedia (DE)
Image: Autor/-in unbekanntUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of Vigo Bay Raid
Also known as Battle of Rande; Batalla de Rande; Battle of Redondela Bay
23 October 1702 · Ría de Vigo and Redondela Bay, Galicia, Spain
Fought between England and the Dutch Republic against France and Spain
Commanders George Rooke, Philips van Almonde (England and Dutch Republic); François Louis Rousselet de Châteaurenault (France); Manuel de Velasco (Spain)
Forces 25 Anglo-Dutch ships of the line with frigates and fireships against 15 French ships of the line and 3 Spanish galleons with frigates, fireships and transports
Ships Torbay, Somerset, Association, Barfleur, Prompt, Assuré, Ferme, Modéré, Triton, Bourbon, Fort, Jesús María y José
Losses Allies: about 800 killed. French and Spanish: about 2,000 killed and every ship burnt or captured; six French ships of the line surrendered, five to the English and one to the Dutch.
Result Anglo-Dutch victory
Returning from a failed attack on Cádiz, George Rooke learned that the Spanish treasure fleet had entered Vigo Bay under French escort, and Philips van Almonde persuaded him to attack. The Franco-Spanish ships lay in Redondela Bay behind a boom covered by two batteries. Allied marines took the batteries, Torbay broke the boom, and the Allied fleet attacked the trapped French ships, capturing or destroying them all with the Spanish galleons.
Why it is remembered Most of the silver had already been landed, but the victory helped bring Portugal into the Grand Alliance, and coins struck from the captured metal bear the word VIGO. Jules Verne made the wrecks the source of Captain Nemo's wealth in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ludolf Bakhuizen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle at the Mouth of the Neva Single-ship action
Also known as Seegefecht an der Mündung der Newa; Бой в устье Невы
18 May 1703 · Neva Bay, at the mouth of the Neva, near present day Saint Petersburg
Fought between Russia against Sweden
Commanders Peter I and Alexander Menshikov (Russia); Gideon von Numers (Sweden)
Forces 2 Russian infantry companies of the Preobrazhensky Guards in 8 to 30 rowing boats against 2 small Swedish ships with 77 men
Ships Astrild, Gedan
Losses Swedes: 58 dead, 19 captured, both ships taken. Russians: 20 dead, 55 wounded.
Result Russian victory
Soldiers of the Preobrazhensky Guards in rowing boats, led by Peter I and Alexander Menshikov, attacked two small Swedish vessels at the mouth of the Neva. In a short fight both Swedish ships were boarded and taken.
Why it is remembered It is traditionally counted as the first naval victory of the Russian fleet, and 18 May is celebrated each year as the birthday of the Baltic Fleet.
Sources Wikipedia (DE)
Image: Adriaan Schoonebeek, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of Cap de la Roque Convoy battle
Also known as Battle of Cabo da Roca
22 May 1703 · Off Cabo da Roca, Portugal
Fought between France against the Dutch Republic and England
Commanders Alain Emmanuel de Coëtlogon (France); Roemer Vlacq, mortally wounded and captured (Dutch Republic)
Forces 5 French ships of the line (404 guns): Vainqueur, Monarque, Éole, Orgueilleux and Couronne, against 4 Dutch ships of the line and 1 frigate (230 guns): Muiderberg, Rotterdam, Gaesterland, Schermer and Rozendaal, escorting about 110 merchant ships
Ships Muiderberg, Rotterdam, Gaesterland, Schermer, Rozendaal, Vainqueur, Monarque, Éole, Orgueilleux, Couronne
Losses Dutch: 3 ships of the line and the frigate captured, Muiderberg burnt; killed and wounded unknown. French: unknown.
Result French victory; the convoy escaped
A convoy of about 110 English and Dutch merchant ships carrying salt, wine and sugar left Lisbon for England under a Dutch escort led by Roemer Vlacq. Off Cabo da Roca it met Coëtlogon's stronger French squadron. Vlacq told the merchantmen to scatter and formed his ships to fight; one by one they were forced to surrender. Muiderberg fought until half her crew were dead or wounded and she was close to sinking, and was then burnt.
Why it is remembered Vlacq's stand saved the whole convoy. He lost an arm and died of his wounds at Toulon on 17 July 1703, and the captured Dutch ships joined the French navy.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Queen Anne's War
Battle of Bonavista Raid
29 August 1704 · Bonavista Harbour, Newfoundland
Fought between France, with New France and Abenaki allies, against the English and the Newfoundland militia
Commanders Jean Léger de LaGrange and Claude Pauperet (France); Michael Gill (England)
Forces 2 French ships with 144 men against 4 English ships with 102 men
Ships Society, William, Pembroke Galley
Losses French: several killed and wounded. English: 1 killed, 3 wounded; Society and William destroyed and Pembroke Galley captured.
Result French destroyed or took three English ships, but the English held Bonavista
A French force attacked shipping in Bonavista harbour in a fight lasting six hours. The French destroyed Society and William and captured Pembroke Galley, but the English defenders under Michael Gill kept the settlement.
Why it is remembered The English held Bonavista, though they lost three ships in the harbour.
Sources differ One account dates the battle 29 August 1704; another account gives 18 August 1704.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Capture of Gibraltar Landing or siege
1 to 4 August 1704 · Gibraltar
Fought between England and the Dutch Republic against Bourbon Spain
Commanders George Rooke, George Byng, Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt (Grand Alliance); Diego de Salinas, surrendered (Spain)
Forces 63 Allied warships and 2,000 men against a Spanish garrison of 430
Losses Allies: 60 killed, 200 wounded. Spanish: 420 killed, 10 severely wounded.
Result Anglo-Dutch victory
Having failed to take Barcelona, Admiral George Rooke and Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt decided to seize Gibraltar. After a heavy bombardment by the fleet, a landing force of marines and sailors stormed the town, and the governor, Diego de Salinas, surrendered on 4 August.
Why it is remembered The Grand Alliance failed to put Charles III on the Spanish throne, but Gibraltar was ceded to Britain in the peace negotiations.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of Málaga (1704) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Vélez-Málaga
24 August 1704 (13 August Old Style) · Off Málaga, Mediterranean Sea
Fought between England and the Dutch Republic against France and Spain
Commanders Sir George Rooke (England); Gerard Callenburgh (Dutch Republic); Count of Toulouse and Count of Estrées (France)
Forces 53 Anglo-Dutch ships of the line, 6 frigates and 7 fireships against 50 Franco-Spanish ships of the line, 9 frigates, 9 fireships and 24 galleys
Ships HMS Prince George
Losses English: 695 killed, 1,663 wounded. Dutch: 92 killed, 268 wounded. French and Spanish: 1,500 killed, 1,548 wounded. No ships lost on either side.
Result Tactically inconclusive; strategic Allied success
After the Anglo-Dutch capture of Gibraltar on 4 August, a French fleet joined Spanish forces to retake it. Rooke sighted them on 22 August and engaged two days later. The fleets exchanged broadsides for several hours, many Allied ships lost masts, and the Anglo-Dutch fleet, short of ammunition, withdrew next day.
Why it is remembered The French fleet returned to Toulon and did not put to sea in strength again for the rest of the war, so Gibraltar stayed in Allied hands. The battle reinforced the defensive line of battle in British and French tactics.
Sources differ A contemporary painting by Isaac Sailmaker dates the battle 13 August 1704, the Old Style date.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Isaac Sailmaker, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Orford Ness (1704) Convoy battle
Also known as Slaget vid Orford Ness
7 August 1704 · Off Orford Ness, Suffolk
Fought between England against Sweden
Commanders William Whetstone (England); Gustaf von Psilander, captured (Sweden)
Forces 8 English ships of the line and 1 frigate against the Swedish 56-gun ship of the line Öland escorting a merchant convoy
Ships Öland
Losses English: 100 killed or wounded. Swedes: 53 killed or wounded, Öland captured.
Result English victory
Rear Admiral William Whetstone's squadron overtook a Swedish convoy and demanded a salute, since it was in English waters. Gustaf von Psilander of Öland, under orders from Charles XII not to salute foreign ships first, refused. After a four hour fight the badly damaged Öland tied up her flag as a distress signal, without striking her colours, and was boarded.
Why it is remembered Charles XII secured the release of Öland, her crew and the convoy, but she sank north of Denmark on the way home. The fight was painted by Johan Tietrich Schoultz.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Johan Tietrich Schoultz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Omani-Portuguese conflicts
Battle of Surat (1704) Fleet battle
2 February 1704 · Off Surat, India, Arabian Sea
Fought between Portugal against Oman
Commanders António de Meneses, Diogo Tavares da Gama, Jorge de Sousa de Meneses (Portugal); an unnamed Omani admiral, killed (Oman)
Forces 1 Portuguese ship of the line and 7 frigates against 9 Omani ships of the line and frigates
Losses Portuguese: 1 frigate damaged; 40, 90 or 100 killed and 30 to 150 wounded. Omanis: 2 frigates captured, 700 killed.
Result Portuguese victory
A Portuguese squadron of one ship of the line and seven frigates under António de Meneses met an Omani squadron of nine ships off Surat. The Portuguese won, capturing two frigates; the Omani admiral was killed.
Why it is remembered It was a Portuguese victory over a larger Omani squadron in the Omani-Portuguese conflicts.
Sources differ Portuguese losses are given as 40, 90 or 100 killed and between 30 and 150 wounded.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Twelfth siege of Gibraltar Landing or siege
September 1704 to May 1705 · Gibraltar
Fought between England, the Dutch Republic, Austria, pro-Habsburg Spain and Portugal against France and Bourbon Spain
Commanders Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt, John Leake (Grand Alliance); Francisco Fajardo, René de Froulay (France and Spain)
Forces About 2,000 Allied defenders at the start against up to 8,000 French, Bourbon Spanish and Irish troops
Losses Allies: 400 killed, missing, captured or dead of disease. French and Spanish: 10,000.
Result Grand Alliance victory
After the Allies took Gibraltar in August 1704, a Franco-Spanish army laid siege to it. The garrison held out using the ground and the town's defences, though often short of men and ammunition. The French navy tried and failed to stop Allied ships bringing troops, ammunition and food, and three naval battles were fought during the siege; after the last, the besiegers gave up after nine months.
Why it is remembered Sea power decided the siege, and Gibraltar stayed in Allied hands.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Louis Boudan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of Cabrita Point Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Marbella
21 March 1705 (10 March Old Style) · Off Marbella, near Gibraltar
Fought between England, Portugal and the Dutch Republic against France and Spain
Commanders John Leake (Grand Alliance); Bernard Desjean, Baron de Pointis (France)
Forces 35 Allied ships of the line against 18 French ships of the line
Losses French: 3 ships of the line captured and 2 destroyed. Killed and wounded unknown on both sides.
Result Grand Alliance victory
While a French and Spanish army besieged Gibraltar, John Leake's Allied fleet caught a French squadron under Pointis off Marbella. The French lost five ships of the line.
Why it is remembered The victory effectively ended the Franco-Spanish siege of Gibraltar.
Sources differ The main account places the battle in the Atlantic Ocean, though Marbella lies on the Mediterranean coast.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Hogland (1705) Single-ship action
20 August 1705 · Near Hogland island, Gulf of Finland
Fought between Sweden against Russia
Commanders Cornelius Ankarstierna (Sweden)
Forces 1 Swedish ship of the line, Reval, against 7 Russian galleys
Ships Reval
Result Swedish victory
The Swedish ship of the line Reval fought seven Russian galleys near Hogland. After several hours the Swedes won.
Why it is remembered It was the first time Russian galleys took part in a naval battle in the Baltic.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Louis Jean Desprez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Queen Anne's War
Lefebvre's Charles Town expedition Landing or siege
Also known as Charles Town expedition
September 1706 · Charles Town (present day Charleston, South Carolina)
Fought between France and Bourbon Spain against England (Province of Carolina)
Commanders Jacques Lefebvre, Estevan de Berroa, Louis Pasquereau, General Arbousset (France and Spain); Nathaniel Johnson, William Rhett, Benjamin Waring, Robert Seabrook (Carolina)
Forces 6 privateers with 330 French and Spanish regulars, 200 Spanish volunteers and 50 Indians against 900 militia and an improvised flotilla including impressed merchant ships
Ships Brillant
Losses French and Spanish: 1 ship captured, 42 killed, over 350 captured. English: unknown.
Result English victory
A French-funded expedition of six ships sailed from Havana, picked up reinforcements at St. Augustine and reached Charles Town in early September 1706. Troops landed near the town were quickly driven off by militia under Governor Nathaniel Johnson. The ship Brillant, separated from the fleet after meeting a privateer, arrived late and was taken by an improvised flotilla under Colonel William Rhett.
Why it is remembered It was a combined French and Spanish attempt on the capital of Carolina, beaten off by local militia and an improvised flotilla.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Henry Popple, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Siege of Ostend (1706) Landing or siege
15 June to 7 July 1706 · Ostend, Spanish Netherlands
Fought between Grand Alliance (Dutch Republic, England, Scotland) against France
Commanders Lord Overkirk, François Nicolas Fagel, Duke of Argyll, with Sir Stafford Fairborne commanding the naval squadron (Allies); Count de la Mothe (France)
Forces 26,000 Allied troops and a Royal Navy squadron with bomb ketches against a French garrison of 3,500
Losses Allies: 430 to 1,050 killed or wounded. French: not stated.
Result Allied victory
After Ramillies, Marlborough sent Dutch and British troops under Overkirk to take the North Sea port of Ostend. A Royal Navy squadron under Sir Stafford Fairborne supported the siege, its bomb ketches setting the town alight. Ostend surrendered after three weeks.
Why it is remembered After its fall Marlborough was offered the governor generalship of the Spanish Netherlands but declined it so as not to offend the Dutch.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1706) Landing or siege
6 November 1706 · Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
Fought between Bourbon Spain against England
Commanders José de Ayala y Rojas (Spain); John Jennings (England)
Forces 4,000 Spanish soldiers with 70 guns against 13 English ships with 800 guns
Losses Spanish: light. English: heavy.
Result Spanish victory
An English fleet of 13 ships under Admiral John Jennings, relying on English successes in the Iberian Peninsula, demanded that the Canary Islands change their allegiance. When this was refused he tried to seize Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the attack failed.
Why it is remembered Santa Cruz held out against an English fleet with light losses of its own.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Action of 2 May 1707 Convoy battle
Also known as Battle of Beachy Head (1707); Bataille du cap Béveziers (1707)
2 to 3 May 1707 · Off Beachy Head, English Channel
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Claude de Forbin (France); Commodore Baron Wylde (Great Britain)
Forces 7 French ships of the line and 6 privateers against 3 British ships of the line escorting 52 merchantmen
Ships HMS Hampton Court, HMS Grafton, HMS Royal Oak, Mars, Grifon, Blackoal, Dauphine, Fidèle
Losses French: 220 killed or wounded. British: 2 ships of the line and 21 merchantmen captured, 1,200 prisoners; Captains George Clements and Edward Acton killed.
Result French victory
A French squadron under Claude de Forbin intercepted a large British convoy. Grifon, Blackoal and Dauphine grappled HMS Hampton Court, killed her captain and took her; Forbin's 60-gun Mars, joined by Blackoal and Fidèle, then took HMS Grafton. The badly holed HMS Royal Oak escaped by running ashore near Dungeness.
Why it is remembered The French carried the two 70-gun ships of the line and 21 merchantmen into Dunkirk.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle at The Lizard Convoy battle
Also known as Combat du Cap Lézard
21 October 1707 · Off Lizard Point, Cornwall
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders René Duguay-Trouin and Claude de Forbin (France); Commodore Richard Edwards (Great Britain)
Forces 12 French warships against 5 British ships of the line escorting 130 merchant ships
Losses French: 300 killed or wounded. British: 800 killed or wounded, 1,500 captured, 3 ships of the line captured, 1 destroyed, 15 merchant ships captured.
Result French victory
Two French squadrons under René Duguay-Trouin and Claude de Forbin attacked a British convoy escorted by Commodore Richard Edwards near Lizard Point. They took or destroyed four of the five escorts and captured 15 merchant ships.
Why it is remembered Duguay-Trouin and Forbin were two of the most successful French naval commanders of the war. Théodore Gudin painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Théodore Gudin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Siege of Toulon (1707) Landing or siege
29 July to 21 August 1707 · Toulon, France
Fought between Austria, Savoy, Great Britain and the Dutch Republic against France
Commanders Victor Amadeus, Prince Eugene, Cloudesley Shovell, Cornelis Beeckman, Johann Wilhelm of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, killed (Allies); Comte de Tessé, Comte de Médavy (France)
Forces 35,000 Allied troops with a British naval force against a French garrison of 10,000 and a field force of 20,000
Losses Allies: 13,000 dead, wounded, deserted or died of disease. French: unknown; 46 ships of the line scuttled.
Result French victory
A Savoyard and Imperial army, supported by a British fleet, attacked the French naval base at Toulon. The Allies were too few for a formal siege and were outnumbered by French land forces; after losing about 13,000 men, mostly to disease, they retreated to Piedmont. The French fleet in the harbour, including 46 ships of the line, was scuttled to save it from destruction.
Why it is remembered The French fleet was not raised until after the war, leaving Britain in control of the western Mediterranean, but the Allied failure ended hopes of invading France from the south.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Wager's Action Convoy battle
Also known as Battle of Barú
8 June 1708 (28 May Old Style) · Off Cartagena de Indias, Caribbean Sea
Fought between Great Britain against Spain and France
Commanders Charles Wager (Great Britain); José Fernández de Santillán, killed (Spain); Jean-Baptiste du Casse (France)
Forces 3 British ships of the line, Expedition (70), Kingston (60) and Portland (50), and the fireship Vulture, against 3 galleons, San José (64), San Joaquín (64) and Santa Cruz (44), the hulk Concepción and 14 merchant ships
Ships Expedition, Kingston, Portland, Vulture, San José, San Joaquín, Santa Cruz, Concepción
Losses British: 14 killed. Spanish: 1,247 killed or wounded; San José blew up with only 11 of about 600 aboard surviving, Santa Cruz captured, Concepción scuttled.
Result British victory
Charles Wager's squadron intercepted the Spanish treasure fleet off Cartagena. San José fought Expedition for about an hour and a half and then blew up and sank almost at once. Santa Cruz was taken in the night, while San Joaquín escaped Kingston and reached Cartagena; Concepción was run ashore on Barú island and burned by her crew.
Why it is remembered The wreck of San José was found by the Colombian Navy in November 2015 and has been the subject of long legal disputes over her treasure. Two of Wager's captains were court-martialled for letting San Joaquín escape. Samuel Scott painted the action around 1747.
Sources differ Estimates of San José's treasure vary widely, from 7 to 11 million pesos at the time to modern values of about 1 billion or 4 billion US dollars, and are poorly sourced.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Samuel Scott, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Action of 18 April 1710 Single-ship action
Also known as Acción del 18 de abril de 1710
18 April 1710 · Waters off Vélez-Málaga, southern Spain
Fought between Order of St John (Knights of Malta) against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders José de Langón, Lieutenant General of the Order's squadron, killed (Order of St John)
Forces The squadron of ships of the Order of St John against one Algerian ship of 36 guns with 400 Turks and 46 Christians aboard
Losses Order of St John: Langón killed by the first shots. Algiers: the ship captured.
Result Maltese victory; the Algerian ship captured
The Order's squadron, hunting Algerian corsairs, met an Algerian ship of 36 guns and took her after a hard fight, but its commander José de Langón was killed. The squadron left the prize at Cartagena, where it arrived on 24 April 1710 flying the black flag of Malta at half mast, buried its commander there and sailed on towards the Strait.
Why it is remembered Langón, born in Malta, was buried in the Old Cathedral of Cartagena, and his brother Adriano had a marble inlay memorial made in Malta, the Taracea de Langón, showing the arms of Cartagena with the Maltese cross and the sea fight; it is now in the Municipal Archaeological Museum of Cartagena, and a twin stands in Valletta.
Sources differ The Gaceta de Madrid puts the action in the waters of Vélez-Málaga, the modern Cartagena article speaks of waters near Cartagena. The memorial inscription calls the prize the capitana of Algiers, the Gaceta only an Algerian ship.
Sources Wikidata · archivo.cartagena.es
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Køge Bay (1710) Fleet battle
Also known as Second Battle of Køge Bay
4 October 1710 (23 September Old Style; 24 September Swedish calendar) · Køge Bay, south of Copenhagen
Fought between Sweden against Denmark-Norway
Commanders Hans Wachtmeister (Sweden); Ulrik Gyldenløve, Iver Huitfeldt, killed (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 21 Swedish ships of the line, 3 frigates, 2 fireships, 3 brigantines and 2 bomb vessels (1,512 guns) against 26 Danish ships of the line, 5 frigates and 5 snows (1,808 guns)
Ships Dannebroge, Tre Kronor, Prinsessan Ulrika Eleonora
Losses Swedes: 2 ships aground, 26 dead. Danes: Dannebroge exploded, 541 dead aboard her.
Result Inconclusive
The Danish and Swedish fleets met in Køge Bay. The Danish Dannebroge caught fire and exploded, and only 9 of her 550 men survived. The Swedish Tre Kronor and Prinsessan Ulrika Eleonora ran aground, and the weather stopped the battle. The Swedes then sank or captured a Danish convoy of transports meant to carry a Russian invasion force from Danzig.
Why it is remembered It checked Russian plans to invade Sweden. The Danish commander Iver Huitfeldt was killed, and the burning of Dannebroge was painted by Christian Mølsted in 1921.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Christian Mølsted, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of Rio de Janeiro (1710) Landing or siege
19 September 1710 · Rio de Janeiro, State of Brazil
Fought between Portugal against France
Commanders Francisco de Castro (Portugal); Jean-François Duclerc, captured (France)
Forces 6 French privateer ships and 1,500 men against 15,000 Portuguese troops and militia
Losses French: 600 killed and 600 captured. Portuguese: 270 killed and wounded.
Result Portuguese victory
A French privateering fleet under Jean-François Duclerc raided the Portuguese colonial city of Rio de Janeiro. The raid failed completely, and Duclerc and more than 600 of his men were captured.
Why it is remembered Duclerc was killed in captivity in March 1711 by unknown hands, and French anger over the treatment of the prisoners led to a second, successful raid the next year.
Sources differ One account dates the raid to August 1710; another account gives 19 September 1710.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of Syracuse (1710) Single-ship action
9 November 1710 · Off Syracuse, Sicily
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Jacques Cassard (France); Edward Rumsey (Great Britain)
Forces 4 or 5 French ships against 2 British ships of the line
Ships Falcon, Pembroke
Losses British: Falcon and Pembroke captured.
Result French victory
A heavily laden French merchant fleet was blockaded in Syracuse by a British squadron. Jacques Cassard arrived when most of the blockaders had gone to Port Mahon for supplies, captured the two ships left on watch, Falcon and Pembroke, and escorted the merchant fleet to Marseille.
Why it is remembered It was a successful French relief of a blockaded convoy.
Sources differ One account gives Cassard four ships; another account gives five ships of the line.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: I FRATELLI ANGELO e GIORGIO BONOMO from Pomezia, ROMA, ITALIA, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of Rio de Janeiro (1711) Raid
12 to 22 September 1711 · Rio de Janeiro, State of Brazil
Fought between France against Portugal
Commanders René Duguay-Trouin (France); Gaspar da Costa Ataíde and Francisco de Moraes de Castro (Portugal)
Forces 7 French ships of the line, 5 frigates, 1 galliot and 3 bomb ketches with 2,800 to 3,700 men against 4 Portuguese ships of the line and 14,000 to 15,000 men
Losses Portuguese: 3 ships of the line scuttled, 1 destroyed, 2 smaller ships captured, 60 smaller ships destroyed. French: about 300 to 500.
Result French victory; the city paid a ransom
A French squadron under René Duguay-Trouin raided the port of Rio de Janeiro. Despite their numbers, the Portuguese defenders, including the governor and the admiral of the fleet in harbour, could not resist effectively. The city paid a ransom to avoid the destruction of its defences.
Why it is remembered It followed French anger over the prisoners taken in the failed raid of 1710, and the city had to pay a ransom.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Capture of the galleon San Joaquin Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of Cartagena (1711)
11 August 1711 · Off Cartagena de Indias, Caribbean Sea
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders James Littleton (Great Britain); Miguel Augustin de Villanueva, died of wounds (Spain)
Forces 5 British ships of the line against the galleon San Joaquin and a smaller ship
Ships San Joaquin
Losses British: 7 killed or wounded. Spanish: 150 killed or wounded, 450 captured, both ships captured.
Result British victory
Five British ships of the line under James Littleton caught the treasure galleon San Joaquin and a smaller ship off Cartagena. After barely an hour San Joaquin surrendered.
Why it is remembered San Joaquin had narrowly escaped capture at Wager's Action nearly three years before.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Fladstrand Fleet battle
11 May 1712 (30 April Old Style) · Off Fladstrand (modern Frederikshavn), Jutland
Fought between Sweden against Denmark-Norway
Commanders Carl Georg Siöblad (Sweden); Hans Knoff (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 7 Swedish ships with 330 guns against 5 Danish ships with 158 guns
Losses Danes: 44 casualties (the main account gives 44 dead). Swedes: unknown.
Result Inconclusive
A Swedish squadron under Carl Georg Siöblad attacked a smaller Danish squadron under Hans Knoff near Fladstrand. The fight lasted about two hours without a decision.
Why it is remembered It was a squadron action off the coast of Jutland during the Great Northern War.
Sources differ One account gives 44 Danish casualties; another account gives 44 dead.
Sources Wikipedia
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Naval battle off Rügen (1712) Convoy battle
Also known as Seeschlacht vor Rügen; Battle of Dranske
29 to 30 September 1712 · Libben bay between Dornbusch (Hiddensee) and Dranske (Rügen), Swedish Pomerania
Fought between Denmark-Norway and Russia against Sweden
Commanders Ulrik Gyldenløve (Denmark-Norway); Hans Wachtmeister and Jacob Kreckel (Sweden)
Forces 5 Danish frigates and 2 smaller warships against a Swedish convoy of more than 100 transports with 1 brigantine
Losses Swedes: the brigantine stranded and burned, 14 transports captured, 42 burned or sunk. Danes: none.
Result Danish victory
A few Danish-Norwegian warships destroyed most of a Swedish transport fleet carrying supplies to Rügen and besieged Stralsund. The main battle fleets of the two sides did not fight seriously.
Why it is remembered The loss of the transports wrecked a planned Swedish campaign in Poland and marked the beginning of the end of Swedish dominance in the southern Baltic.
Sources Wikipedia (DE)
Image: Autor/-in unbekanntUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Naval battles in the Greifswalder Bodden (1712) Fleet battle
Also known as Seegefechte im Greifswalder Bodden (1712)
31 July to 17 August 1712 · Greifswalder Bodden, off Rügen, Swedish Pomerania
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Christian Thomesen Sehested (Denmark-Norway); Michael Henck (Sweden)
Forces 14 Danish warships against 10 Swedish warships
Losses 31 July: Swedes 98 killed and wounded and 1 ship, Danes 23 killed and wounded. 17 August: Swedes 70 killed and wounded, Danish losses unknown.
Result Danish victory
A Danish flotilla under Christian Thomesen Sehested fought a Swedish flotilla under Michael Henck in a series of actions in the shallow waters south of Rügen. The Danes won and took control of these waters.
Why it is remembered Denmark gained control of the sea approaches to besieged Stralsund.
Sources differ The opening action of 31 July to 6 August is also described separately as the Battle of Westtief.
Sources Wikipedia (DE)
Image: Elbarto3232, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Westtief Fleet battle
Also known as Slaget i Westtief
31 July to 6 August 1712 · Westtief, south east of Rügen, at the entrances to the Greifswalder Bodden
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Christen Thomesen Sehested (Denmark-Norway); Commodore Mikael Henck (Sweden)
Forces About 10 Danish-Norwegian warships and prams, including Ditsmarsken (46 guns), with 5 smaller vessels, against 8 Swedish warships, including Stralsund, Anklam, St. Thomas and St. Johannes (30 guns each), 4 smaller vessels and 11 transports
Ships Ditsmarsken, Phønix, Arc Noah, Ebenetzer, Helleflynderen, Stralsund, Anklam, St. Thomas, St. Johannes, Witdove
Losses Danes: 8 killed and 15 wounded on three ships; Arc Noah heavily damaged. Swedes: not stated.
Result Danish-Norwegian victory
Sehested blocked the entrances to the Greifswalder Bodden and on 31 July attacked Westtief with heavily armed prams, but the Swedes beat off the first attack. On 2 August, while part of his force kept the Swedes busy, he took Ditsmarsken round Ruden through the open Osttief channel into the Bodden. Attacked from both sides, the Swedes were driven out of Neutief by 4 August.
Why it is remembered Sehested won control of the Greifswalder Bodden and the waters east of Rügen.
Sources differ One account gives 8 killed and 15 wounded on three ships, while another account says Arc Noah alone had 7 killed and 13 wounded.
Sources no.wikipedia.org
Image: Elbarto3232, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Hogland (1713) Fleet battle
Also known as Action of 22 July 1713
21 to 22 July 1713 (10 to 11 July Old Style) · Near the Kalbådagrund shoal, Gulf of Finland, 50 km south of Porvoo
Fought between Sweden against Russia
Commanders Carl Raab (Sweden); Cornelius Cruys (Russia)
Forces 3 Swedish ships of the line against 6 Russian ships of the line, 5 frigates and 2 brigs
Losses Swedes: minor crew losses. Russians: 1 ship of the line.
Result Inconclusive
A small Swedish squadron of three ships of the line under Carl Raab met a larger Russian force under Cornelius Cruys in the Gulf of Finland. The engagement was indecisive, though the Russians lost a ship of the line.
Why it is remembered It was an indecisive clash between Swedish and Russian ships of the line in the Gulf of Finland.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Sjöhistoriska museet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Gangut Fleet battle
Also known as Гангутское сражение; Riilahden taistelu; Slaget vid Rilax; Sjöslaget vid Hangö udd
7 August 1714 (27 July Old Style) · Riilahti Bay, north of the Hanko peninsula, southern Finland
Fought between Russia against Sweden
Commanders Peter I, Fyodor Apraksin, Matija Zmajević (Russia); Gustaf Wattrang, Nils Ehrenskiöld (Sweden)
Forces 98 Russian galleys, 23 of them engaged, with about 3,900 men, against 1 Swedish pram, 6 galleys and 2 skerry boats with 941 to 2,400 men
Losses Swedes: every ship captured or sunk; 361 killed and 580 captured, or 400 killed or wounded and 2,000 captured. Russians: 125 killed and 341 wounded by Russian accounts, 3,000 men and over 50 galleys by Swedish accounts, about 600 killed or wounded by other accounts.
Result Russian victory
The Russian galley fleet attacked a small Swedish squadron of a pram, six galleys and two skerry boats under Nils Ehrenskiöld in Riilahti Bay near Hanko. The Swedish force was overwhelmed and every vessel taken or sunk.
Why it is remembered It was the first important victory in the history of the Russian fleet and is commemorated in Russia as one of the Days of Military Honour. Maurice Baquoy engraved the battle in the 1720s.
Sources differ Swedish losses: 361 killed and 580 captured, or 400 killed or wounded and 2,000 captured. Russian losses: 125 killed and 341 wounded (Russian accounts), 3,000 men and more than 50 galleys (Swedish accounts), or about 600 killed or wounded (other accounts). Swedish strength is given as 941 to 2,400 men.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of the Malacca Strait (1714) Single-ship action
Also known as Batalha do Estreito de Malaca
8 to 10 January 1714 · Strait of Malacca
Fought between Portugal against France
Commanders Paulo da Costa (Portugal); Henri Bouynot (France)
Forces 1 Portuguese frigate with 176 men and 34 guns against 2 French frigates with 500 men and 90 guns
Losses Portuguese: 3 dead, 8 wounded. French: 80 dead and many wounded.
Result Portuguese victory
A single Portuguese frigate under Paulo da Costa fought two French frigates in the Strait of Malacca over three days and beat them.
Why it is remembered It was one of the last battles of the War of the Spanish Succession, fought after France and Portugal had made peace at Utrecht in April 1713.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Spanish Succession (War of the Catalans, siege of Barcelona)
Naval Battle of Barcelona (1714) Blockade and raiding
Also known as Batalla naval de Barcelona
24 February 1714 · Off Barcelona
Fought between Catalonia against Great Britain
Forces A Catalan squadron of armed frigates and transports against British ships helping to blockade the port
Losses British: 13 smaller vessels and 2 armed ships lost, with many casualties. Catalan: not stated.
Result Catalan victory
During the siege of Barcelona, a Bourbon fleet under Jean du Casse began a naval blockade on 1 February 1714, with British ships under Admiral James Wishart helping. On 24 February the small Catalan squadron defeated a British squadron off the city.
Why it is remembered It did not save the city: supplies kept arriving only in small amounts, and the blockade of the port was completed on 7 July 1714.
Sources Viquipèdia (CA)
Image: georg-hessen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Omani-Portuguese conflicts
Battle of Surat (1714) Fleet battle
Also known as Batalha de Surrate
19 February 1714 · Near the port of Surat, India
Fought between Portugal against Oman
Commanders Pereira da Silva (Portugal)
Forces 6 Omani frigates; Portuguese strength not given
Losses Portuguese: 28 killed and 34 wounded. Omanis: 1,800 killed.
Result Portuguese tactical victory
A Portuguese squadron fought an Omani fleet near Surat in an action that lasted the whole day.
Why it is remembered The Viceroy of India called it one of the hardest fought and most glorious actions seen in those seas for many years.
Sources differ The only source is short and does not clearly say which side each strength and loss figure belongs to.
Sources Wikipedia (PT)
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Fehmarn (1715) Fleet battle
Also known as Action of 24 April 1715
24 April 1715 (13 April Old Style) · Fehmarn Belt, between Denmark and Germany
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Christian Carl Gabel (Denmark-Norway); Carl Hans Wachtmeister (Sweden)
Forces 8 Danish ships of the line, 3 frigates and 4 smaller vessels against 4 Swedish ships of the line and 2 frigates
Losses Danes: 66 killed, 226 wounded. Swedes: 353 killed and wounded, 1,875 captured, 5 ships captured and 1 scuttled.
Result Danish victory
A Danish squadron under Christian Carl Gabel caught a Swedish squadron of six ships under Carl Hans Wachtmeister in the Fehmarn Belt. The Danes captured five of the six Swedish ships, and the last was scuttled.
Why it is remembered The whole Swedish squadron was lost.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Andreas Henrik Stibolt (1739, 1821), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War (Pomeranian campaign of 1715 to 1716)
Naval battles in the Greifswalder Bodden (1715) Fleet battle
Also known as Seegefechte im Greifswalder Bodden (1715)
September 1715, ending 25 September · Greifswalder Bodden, off Rügen, Swedish Pomerania
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Christian Thomesen Sehested (Denmark-Norway); Captain Paul Cronhawen (Sweden)
Forces About two dozen Danish warships (prams and galliots) against 9 Swedish frigates, 3 galliots and other craft
Losses First action: 72 dead on the Swedish flagship, Danish losses unknown. Second action: 3 Swedish ships lost, 40 Danish killed and wounded.
Result Danish victory
A Danish flotilla under Sehested defeated two Swedish flotillas near Rügen. The fighting cut the sea routes to besieged Stralsund and prepared the way for an allied landing on Rügen.
Why it is remembered Denmark won control of the Greifswalder Bodden.
Sources Wikipedia (DE)
Image: Autor/-in unbekanntUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Rügen (1715) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Jasmund (1715)
8 August 1715 (28 July Old Style) · Off Jasmund, Rügen
Fought between Sweden against Denmark-Norway
Commanders Claes Sparre (Sweden); Peter Raben (Denmark-Norway)
Forces 20 Swedish ships of the line and 2 frigates against 21 Danish ships of the line and 4 frigates
Losses Swedes: 145 dead, 333 wounded. Danes: 127 dead, 485 wounded. No ships lost on either side.
Result Tactically inconclusive; Danish strategic victory
The Swedish and Danish battle fleets fought off Jasmund on Rügen. No ship was lost on either side, though both suffered heavy casualties.
Why it is remembered It was a major fleet battle of the Great Northern War, and a strategic success for Denmark.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War
Action of 8 July 1716 Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Corfu (1716)
8 July 1716 · Corfu Channel
Fought between Venice against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Andrea Corner (Venice); Canum Hoca (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 26 Venetian ships of the line against 50 Ottoman ships of the line
Losses Venetians: 200 killed and wounded. Ottomans: 1,300 killed and wounded.
Result Indecisive
During an Ottoman attempt to capture Corfu, the Venetian fleet under Andrea Corner fought a much larger Ottoman fleet in the Corfu Channel. The action was indecisive.
Why it is remembered It was fought as part of the defence of Corfu against Ottoman invasion.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: H.C. Bröckell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Dynekilen Raid
Also known as Slaget ved Dynekilen
8 July 1716 (28 June Old Style) · Dynekilen fjord, Bohuslän, Sweden
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Peter Tordenskjold (Denmark-Norway); Olof Strömstierna (Sweden)
Forces 7 Danish-Norwegian warships with 931 men against 13 Swedish warships, 14 merchant vessels and a shore battery, with 1,284 men
Losses Swedes: 9 warships and 5 merchantmen captured, 4 warships sunk, 9 merchantmen destroyed, 21 or more men captured, killed and wounded unknown. Danes and Norwegians: 19 killed, 57 wounded.
Result Dano-Norwegian victory
Peter Tordenskjold led a Dano-Norwegian squadron into the Dynekilen fjord against a Swedish fleet under Olof Strömstierna protected by a shore battery. The Swedish force was taken or destroyed.
Why it is remembered Almost the whole Swedish force was captured or destroyed. Carl Neumann painted Tordenskjold i Dynekilen.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Carl Neumann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Gothenburg (1717) Raid
13 to 14 May 1717 (2 to 3 May Old Style) · Göta älv, Gothenburg, Sweden
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Peter Tordenskjold (Denmark-Norway); Olof Strömstierna and Fredrik of Hessen (Sweden)
Forces 2 Danish-Norwegian ships of the line, 2 prams, 9 galleys and 83 smaller craft with 4,000 men and 340 guns against 6 Swedish frigates and smaller ships, shore batteries and Älvsborg fortress, 1,600 to 2,000 men with 400 guns
Losses Danes and Norwegians: 2 galleys and 1 pram lost, 52 dead, 119 wounded. Swedes: 9 dead.
Result Swedish victory
Tordenskjold tried a surprise attack to destroy the Swedish squadron in Gothenburg. Once his force had passed Älvsborg fortress the Swedes opened fire, catching it between the fortress and Swedish ships moored across the river. After five hours the attackers withdrew, having lost several vessels.
Why it is remembered Tordenskjold's surprise attack failed under crossfire. Jacob Hägg painted the Danish ships firing on New Älvsborg as they left.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jacob Hägg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War
Battle of Imbros (1717) Fleet battle
Also known as İmroz Deniz Muharebesi
12 to 16 June 1717 · Near Imbros, Aegean Sea
Fought between Venice against the Ottoman Empire and Tripoli
Commanders Lodovico Flangini, died of wounds (Venice); Kapudan Pasha Hodja Ibrahim Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 26 Venetian warships against 44 Ottoman warships
Ships Colomba
Losses Venetians: 1,390 casualties, Colomba badly damaged. Ottomans: unknown casualties, 6 ships badly damaged. No ships sunk.
Result Indecisive
The outnumbered Venetian sailing fleet under Lodovico Flangini held its own against a larger Ottoman force in a fight of manoeuvre near Imbros that lasted nearly ten days. Both fleets returned to base badly damaged.
Why it is remembered Flangini died of his wounds on 22 June after the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Raggi, Giovanni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War
Battle of Matapan (1717) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Cape Matapan; Batalha Naval do Cabo Matapão
19 July 1717 · Off Cape Matapan, Laconian Gulf, southern Greece
Fought between Portugal, Venice, Malta and other Catholic states against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Lopo Furtado de Mendonça (Portugal); Marcantonio Diedo, Ludovico Diedo, killed (Venice); Chevalier de Bellefontaine (Malta); Ibrahim Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Forces About 30 Ottoman sailing ships and some galleys against a Catholic fleet including 24 Venetian sailing ships and 9 Portuguese and Maltese ships, with galley squadrons
Ships Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Nossa Senhora do Pilar, Nossa Senhora das Necessidades, Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Santa Rosa, Rainha dos Anjos, Trionfo, Madonna della Salute, Grand'Alessandro, Kebir Üç Ambarlı
Losses Portuguese: about 50 killed and 150 wounded, ships heavily damaged. Venetians: little damage. Ottomans: one ship sunk by gunfire; claims of up to 6,000 dead are thought exaggerated.
Result Portuguese and allied victory
A combined Venetian, Portuguese and Maltese fleet met the Ottoman fleet off Cape Matapan. When the wind shifted, the leading Venetian ships gained the weather gauge and attacked, and in the afternoon the Ottomans drew off. The other Catholic squadrons withdrew, but Mendonça refused an order to do the same and kept fighting until the Ottoman fleet fled.
Why it is remembered The victory raised the prestige of King John V of Portugal, who received the title Most Faithful, and Lisbon became a patriarchate.
Sources differ One account gives the Ottoman fleet as 34 ships, 24 galleys and 1 frigate; another account describes 30 sailing ships and 4 galleys.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Óleo sobre a tela, pintado por António José Ramos em 1956, cópia do original feito por João Dantas em 1812., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Austro-Turkish War (1716 to 1718)
Battle of Slankamen (1717) Fleet battle
16 April 1717 · Danube near Stari Slankamen, Serbia
Fought between Ottoman Empire against the Habsburg Monarchy
Commanders Ernest von Petrasch, captured (Habsburg Monarchy)
Forces 23 Austrian chaikas (šajka river boats) against 60 Ottoman vessels
Losses Austrians: heavy, commander captured. Ottomans: unknown.
Result Ottoman victory
An Austrian river flotilla returning from Pančevo on the Danube was attacked by the Ottoman fleet near Slankamen. The Ottomans won and captured the Austrian commander.
Why it is remembered It was a river battle between Austrian and Ottoman flotillas on the Danube.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Georg i Jacob Hoefnagel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Strömstad Landing or siege
19 July 1717 (8 July Old Style) · Strömstad, Bohuslän, Sweden
Fought between Sweden against Denmark-Norway
Commanders Johan Giertta (Sweden); Peter Tordenskjold (Denmark-Norway)
Forces About 1,800 Swedish soldiers against about 4,000 Danish-Norwegian men with 3 ships of the line, 2 prams, 9 galleys and 20 landing craft
Losses Swedes: 19 killed, 173 wounded. Danes and Norwegians: 96 killed, 246 wounded.
Result Swedish victory
Tordenskjold attacked Strömstad from the sea to destroy the supplies Sweden had gathered for an invasion of Norway. The Swedish garrison under Johan Giertta beat off the attack.
Why it is remembered It was another failed attack by Tordenskjold on the Bohuslän coast in 1717.
Sources differ One account gives about 200 Swedish and 350 Norwegian dead or wounded; another account gives 192 and 342.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Erik Dahlberg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Golden Age of Piracy
Battle of Cape Fear River Single-ship action
Also known as Battle of the Sandbars
26 to 27 September 1718 · Cape Fear River estuary, North Carolina
Fought between Province of South Carolina against pirates
Commanders William Rhett (South Carolina); Stede Bonnet, surrendered (pirates)
Forces 2 South Carolina sloops against 3 pirate sloops and 3 canoes
Losses South Carolina: 30 killed and wounded. Pirates: 12 killed and wounded, 41 captured, all sloops and canoes taken.
Result South Carolina victory
Two sloops from South Carolina under William Rhett found Stede Bonnet's pirate ships in the Cape Fear River estuary. After a fight on the sandbars the pirates surrendered.
Why it is remembered It led to Stede Bonnet's hanging at Charleston, South Carolina.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, PD, via Wikipedia (en)
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Quadruple Alliance
Battle of Cape Passaro Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Avola; Battle of Syracuse (1718)
11 to 12 August 1718 · Off Cape Passaro, southern tip of Sicily
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Sir George Byng, Charles Cornewall, George Delaval (Great Britain); José Antonio de Gaztañeta, captured (Spain)
Forces 21 British ships of the line, 1 frigate, 2 fireships, 2 bomb vessels, a storeship and a hospital ship against 12 Spanish ships of the line, 18 frigates, 7 galleys, 2 sloops and 2 fireships
Losses British: 500 killed or wounded. Spanish: 2,400 killed or wounded, 3,600 captured, 7 ships of the line and 6 frigates captured, 1 ship of the line destroyed, 1 frigate scuttled.
Result British victory
Britain and Spain were at peace, but Britain backed the Emperor Charles VI in southern Italy, and Byng's fleet followed the Spanish fleet off Sicily, which Spain had occupied. When the Spanish fired on the nearest British ships, Byng attacked with superior numbers and took or destroyed most of the Spanish fleet in a single day.
Why it is remembered It was the most significant naval action of the War of the Quadruple Alliance; it cut off the Spanish army in Sicily, and war was formally declared four months later. Richard Paton painted the battle in 1767.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Richard Paton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War (1714 to 1718)
Battle of Elafonisos Fleet battle
Also known as Paşa Adası Deniz Muharebesi
20 to 22 July 1718 · Between Elafonisos (Paşa Adası) and Cape Matapan, southern Morea
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Venice
Commanders İzmirli Süleyman Pasha (Ottoman Empire); Lodovico Diedo (Venice)
Losses Venetians: heavy losses. Ottomans: not stated.
Result Ottoman victory
The Ottoman fleet under the Kapudan Pasha İzmirli Süleyman Pasha inflicted heavy losses on the Venetian fleet under Lodovico Diedo between Elafonisos and Cape Matapan. The fighting stopped when news arrived of the Treaty of Passarowitz, signed on 21 July 1718.
Why it is remembered It was fought as the war was already ending, the peace having been signed during the battle.
Sources Wikipedia (TR)
Image: Alberto Sciretti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Golden Age of Piracy
Battle of Ocracoke Single-ship action
Also known as Battle at Ocracoke; Battle of Ocracoke Inlet
22 November 1718 · Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina
Fought between Great Britain against pirates
Commanders Lieutenant Robert Maynard and Edmund Hyde, killed (Great Britain); Blackbeard (Edward Teach), killed (pirates)
Forces 2 civilian sloops manned by detachments from HMS Pearl and HMS Lyme against Blackbeard's sloop
Ships HMS Pearl, HMS Lyme
Losses British: 11 to 20 killed. Pirates: 10 to 12 killed.
Result British victory
A force led by Royal Navy lieutenant Robert Maynard in two hired sloops attacked Blackbeard in Ocracoke Inlet. Blackbeard and his crew boarded Maynard's sloop, and in the fight that followed Blackbeard was killed and his crew defeated.
Why it is remembered It ended with the death of the pirate Blackbeard. George Edmund Varian's 1904 painting shows Blackbeard boarding Maynard's ship.
Sources differ British dead are given as 11 to 20, pirate dead as 10 to 12.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: George Edmund Varian (1865, 1923)[1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Quadruple Alliance
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1719) Single-ship action
20 December 1719 · Off Cape St. Vincent, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Spain against Great Britain
Commanders Rodrigo de Torres y Morales (Spain); Commodore Philip Cavendish (Great Britain)
Forces 3 Spanish ships of the line against 2 British ships of the line and 1 frigate
Ships HMS Dover
Losses British: 40 killed or wounded. Spanish: 20 killed, 27 wounded.
Result Spanish victory
A Spanish squadron sailing from Santander to Cádiz, which had taken a British frigate and sloop a few days before, met Commodore Philip Cavendish's squadron off Cape St. Vincent. After five hours the British withdrew to Gibraltar, and the Spanish reached Cádiz on 2 January 1720.
Why it is remembered Pedro Messía de la Cerda, later known for the voyage of the Glorioso, fought in the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Willem van de Velde the Elder, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Attack on Marstrand Landing or siege
Also known as Anfallet mot Marstrand
21 to 27 July 1719 (10 to 16 July Old Style) · Marstrand and Carlsten fortress, Bohuslän, Sweden
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Peter Tordenskjold (Denmark-Norway); Colonel Henrich Danckwardt (Sweden)
Forces 600 to 700 Danish-Norwegian soldiers and sailors with 18 vessels including barges, galleys and mortar ships, against 388 Swedish troops and sailors with 6 frigates, 3 galleys, 2 fireships and 1 barge
Result Dano-Norwegian victory
Tordenskjold's ships attacked the harbour of Marstrand and the immobile ships of the Swedish Gothenburg squadron. The Danes then besieged Carlsten fortress, whose garrison surrendered quickly, partly because of psychological warfare.
Why it is remembered The fortress commander, Henrich Danckwardt, was later sentenced to death by a Swedish court-martial for giving up a defensible fort. The surrender is still surrounded by myths and legends.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Jacob Fosie (1679 to 1763), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Attack on Nya Varvet (1719) Raid
Also known as Anfallet mot Nya Varvet
Night of 27 September 1719 (Old Style) · Nya Varvet naval base, mouth of the Göta älv, Gothenburg
Fought between Denmark-Norway against Sweden
Commanders Peter Tordenskjold (Denmark-Norway)
Forces A Danish force in small vessels
Losses Swedes: several ships in the harbour destroyed. Danes: no great losses.
Result Danish success
In revenge for a Swedish capture of Danish warships at Grötö a few weeks earlier, Vice Admiral Peter Tordenskjold sailed from Marstrand by night in small vessels and slipped past Swedish guard posts by a ruse. After a short fight in the yard his men destroyed several Swedish ships in the harbour and withdrew.
Why it is remembered It was a successful surprise raid on Sweden's new naval base at Gothenburg.
Sources Wikipedia (SV)
Image: Jens Andresen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Ösel Island Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Ösel; Battle of Saaremaa
4 June 1719 (24 May Old Style) · Near Saaremaa (Ösel), Baltic Sea
Fought between Russia against Sweden
Commanders Naum Senyavin (Russia); Anton Johan Wrangel (Sweden)
Forces 6 Russian ships of the line and 1 smaller vessel against 1 Swedish ship of the line, 1 frigate and 1 brigantine
Losses Swedes: all 3 ships captured, 451 killed, wounded and captured. Russians: 18 casualties.
Result Russian victory
A Russian squadron under Captain Naum Senyavin caught a small Swedish squadron near Saaremaa and captured all three of its ships.
Why it is remembered It was the first Russian naval victory won without ramming or boarding. Aleksey Bogolyubov painted the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexey Bogolyubov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Golden Age of Piracy
Battle of Anjouan Single-ship action
Also known as Combat d'Anjouan
25 July 1720 · Off Anjouan, Comoro Islands
Fought between British East India Company against pirates
Commanders James Macrae (East India Company); Edward England and John Taylor (pirates)
Forces 1 East India Company ship against 2 pirate ships
Losses East India Company: 77 dead, ship captured. Pirates: 90 dead.
Result Pirate victory
A ship of the British East India Company under James Macrae fought two pirate ships under Edward England and John Taylor near Anjouan. The pirates took the ship after heavy losses on both sides.
Why it is remembered Both sides lost heavily: 77 dead aboard the Company ship and 90 among the pirates.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Great Northern War
Battle of Grengam Fleet battle
Also known as Гренгамское морское сражение; Slaget vid Ledsund; Slaget vid Föglöfjärden; Flisön taistelu
7 August 1720 (27 July Old Style) · Ledsund strait near Granhamn, between Föglö and Lemland, Åland
Fought between Russia against Sweden
Commanders General Mikhail Golitsyn and Matija Zmajević (Russia); Vice Admiral Carl Georg Siöblad (Sweden)
Forces 61 Russian galleys and 29 boats with 11,000 sailors and soldiers against 1 Swedish ship of the line, 4 frigates, 3 galleys and 6 smaller craft with over 1,000 sailors
Losses Swedes: 103 killed, 407 captured, 4 frigates captured. Russians (contemporary Russian return): 82 killed, 203 wounded, 43 burned, 1 galley sunk and burned, 42 galleys damaged.
Result Russian victory
A Russian galley fleet under Mikhail Golitsyn met a Swedish squadron under Carl Georg Siöblad in the narrow Ledsund strait in Åland. The Russians captured four Swedish frigates.
Why it is remembered It was the last major naval battle of the Great Northern War, which ended with the Treaty of Nystad in 1721. Alexey Zubov etched the battle in 1721.
Sources differ The extent of Russian losses and the strategic importance of the result are disputed by later historians.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Alexey Zubov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Quadruple Alliance
Raid on Nassau (1720) Landing or siege
24 February to 1 March 1720 · Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas
Fought between Spain against Great Britain
Commanders Francisco Javier Cornejo and José Cordero (Spain); Woodes Rogers and Captain Hildesley (Great Britain)
Forces 3 Spanish frigates and 9 brigantines and sloops with 1,300 to 2,000 men against 2 British frigates and 600 troops
Losses Spanish: 1 sloop wrecked. British: unknown.
Result British victory
A Spanish expeditionary force attacked the British settlement of Nassau at the end of the War of the Quadruple Alliance. It was beaten off.
Why it is remembered The British settlement at Nassau, defended by Woodes Rogers, beat off the Spanish attack.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Golden Age of Piracy
Capture of the sloop William Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of John Rackham
About 22 October 1720 · Off Negril, Jamaica
Fought between Great Britain against pirates
Commanders Jonathan Barnet (Great Britain); John Rackham, surrendered (pirates)
Forces 1 sloop against 1 pirate sloop
Ships William
Losses British: none. Pirates: 13 captured and the sloop taken.
Result British victory
The former privateer Jonathan Barnet caught the pirate John Rackham off Negril, Jamaica. After a short fight Rackham and his crew were captured.
Why it is remembered It ended the career of the pirate John Rackham.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Golden Age of Piracy
Capture of the Virgin of the Cape Single-ship action
Also known as Prise de la Vierge du Cap
26 April 1721 · Roads of Saint-Denis, Île Bourbon (Réunion)
Fought between Portugal against pirates
Commanders Luís Carlos Inácio Xavier de Meneses (Portugal); John Taylor and Olivier Levasseur (pirates)
Forces 1 Portuguese ship against 2 pirate ships with 480 men
Ships Vierge du Cap
Losses Portuguese: ship captured. Pirates: unknown.
Result Pirate victory
Two pirate ships under John Taylor and Olivier Levasseur attacked the Portuguese ship Vierge du Cap in the roads of Saint-Denis on Île Bourbon and captured her.
Why it is remembered A Portuguese ship was taken at anchor off Île Bourbon by two pirate crews led by John Taylor and Olivier Levasseur.
Sources Wikipédia (FR)
Image: Pompeo Batoni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Golden Age of Piracy
Battle of Cape Lopez Single-ship action
10 February 1722 · Off Cape Lopez, Gabon, West Africa
Fought between Great Britain against pirates
Commanders Chaloner Ogle (Great Britain); Bartholomew Roberts, killed (pirates)
Forces 1 British ship of the line, HMS Swallow, against 1 pirate frigate and 1 brig
Ships HMS Swallow
Losses British: none. Pirates: 3 killed, 272 captured, 1 ship captured; Roberts killed.
Result British victory
HMS Swallow under Captain Chaloner Ogle attacked the pirate ship of Bartholomew Roberts off Cape Lopez. Roberts was killed and his crew captured.
Why it is remembered It ended the career of Bartholomew Roberts. Charles Dixon illustrated the battle.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles Dixon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Dummer's War
Battle of Winnepang Single-ship action
July 1722 · Jeddore Harbour, Nova Scotia
Fought between New England colonists against the Mi'kmaq
Commanders John Bradstreet and John Elliot, wounded (New England); Mi'kmaq commander unknown
Forces About 30 New England militia against 39 Mi'kmaq warriors
Losses New England: 5 killed and several wounded. Mi'kmaq: 35 killed
Result British victory
The Mi'kmaq had taken more than 82 New England prisoners from fishing vessels off Nova Scotia. Governor Richard Philipps ordered a force under Ensign John Bradstreet and the fishing captain John Elliot to recover them, and they attacked the Mi'kmaq at Jeddore Harbour in a naval battle.
Why it is remembered It was part of Governor Philipps's campaign to recover New England fishermen taken prisoner by the Mi'kmaq during Dummer's War.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Carolina Hall, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Golden Age of Piracy
Capture of the sloop Ranger Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of the Fancy
10 June 1723 · Off Block Island, Atlantic coast of North America
Fought between Great Britain against pirates
Commanders Peter Solgard (Great Britain); Edward Low and Charles Harris, surrendered (pirates)
Forces 1 Royal Navy post ship, HMS Greyhound, against the pirate schooner Fancy and the sloop Ranger
Ships HMS Greyhound, Ranger, Fancy
Losses British: none. Pirates: 43 captured, Ranger taken.
Result British victory
The pirates Edward Low and Charles Harris attacked HMS Greyhound, mistaking her for a whaler. After several hours Greyhound captured Harris's sloop Ranger, while Low escaped in Fancy.
Why it is remembered The surviving crew of Ranger were tried at Newport, Rhode Island, sentenced to death and executed.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Anglo-Spanish War (1727 to 1729)
Blockade of Porto Bello Blockade and raiding
1726 to 1727 · Porto Bello (present day Panama)
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Francis Hosier, Edward St Lo, Edward Hopson, all died of natural causes (Great Britain); Antonio Gaztañeta, Gregorio Guazo, killed, Juan Andía (Spain)
Forces 11 British ships of the line, 1 frigate, 2 sloops and 1 snow with 4,750 men against 2,000 Spanish troops
Losses British: more than 4,000 dead, mostly from yellow fever and other diseases, and 1 ship wrecked.
Result Spanish victory; the treasure fleet evaded the blockade
A British squadron blockaded Porto Bello to stop the Spanish treasure fleet sailing for Spain. Tropical disease killed so many seamen that the British had to leave to find new crews, and in their absence the Spanish resumed shipping.
Why it is remembered Disease killed more than 4,000 British seamen, including the commanders Hosier, St Lo and Hopson.
Sources differ One account dates the blockade 1726 to 1727; another account gives 1726 to 1728.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Lobsterthermidor at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Anglo-Spanish War (1727 to 1729)
Action of 11 March 1727 Single-ship action
11 March 1727 · Off Cádiz, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders George Forbes (Great Britain)
Forces 2 British ships of the line, HMS Royal Oak and HMS Canterbury, against the new 46-gun Spanish frigate Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Ships HMS Royal Oak, HMS Canterbury, Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Losses Spanish: 200 killed or wounded, frigate captured. British: unknown.
Result British victory
The newly completed Spanish frigate Nuestra Señora del Rosario, bound from Santander to Cádiz, was sighted by HMS Royal Oak and HMS Canterbury near Cádiz. Royal Oak caught her and after a few broadsides the frigate struck before Canterbury came up.
Why it is remembered The prize was brought back to the British squadron, which slipped past the Spanish besiegers to relieve Gibraltar two days later.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Willem van de Velde the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Bombardment of Tripoli (1728) Landing or siege
20 to 27 July 1728 · Tripoli, Ottoman Tripolitania (Libya)
Fought between France against Tripolitania
Commanders Étienne Nicolas de Grandpré (France); Ahmed Karamanli (Tripoli)
Result Inconclusive
A French squadron under Étienne Nicolas de Grandpré, having made Tunis submit, appeared before Tripoli. When the Pasha refused to submit, the fleet bombarded the city for six nights and caused great destruction.
Why it is remembered The French did not follow up the bombardment with a landing, so the damage brought no lasting result.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: I found it on internet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Battle of Damietta (1732) Convoy battle
Also known as Bataille au large de Damiette
16 August 1732 · Off Damietta, Egypt
Fought between Order of Malta against the Ottoman Empire
Commanders Jacques-François de Chambray (Order of Malta); Kali Michamet (Ottoman Empire)
Forces 2 Maltese ships of the line and 2 tartanes against an Ottoman flagship escorting 40 merchant ships
Losses Maltese: 8 dead, 12 wounded. Ottomans: flagship taken, 117 prisoners, casualties unknown.
Result Order of Malta victory
A small squadron of the Order of Malta under Jacques-François de Chambray attacked an Ottoman convoy off Damietta and took its flagship. Fourteen Christian slaves held by the Ottomans were freed.
Why it is remembered The battle is shown in a fresco in the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: McKarri 17:08, 21. Dez. 2011 (CET), CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Spanish-Barbary wars
Spanish conquest of Oran (1732) Landing or siege
Also known as Spanish expedition to Oran
15 June to 2 July 1732 · Oran and Mers el-Kébir, Regency of Algiers
Fought between Spain against the Regency of Algiers and the Beylik of Oran
Commanders Duke of Montemar, Francisco Javier Cornejo, Blas de Lezo, Juan José Navarro (Spain); Mustapha Bouchelaghem, Wali Hassan (Algiers)
Forces 27,000 to 28,000 Spanish troops carried by 12 ships of the line, 50 frigates, 7 galleys, 26 galiots, 4 brigs, 97 xebecs, gunboats, bomb vessels and 109 transports, against about 20,000 Algerian troops and an unknown number of ships
Losses Spanish: 100 killed. Algerians: heavy losses of men and ships, 142 guns captured.
Result Spanish victory; Oran and Mers el-Kébir retaken
A large Spanish expedition under the Duke of Montemar and Francisco Javier Cornejo landed in Algeria and defeated the troops of the Bey of Oran. It took the fortress cities of Oran and Mers el-Kébir, which Algiers had held since 1708.
Why it is remembered It restored Spanish rule over Oran and Mers el-Kébir, lost during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Zauber, K, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Spanish and Algerian conflicts
Action of 12 October 1734 Fleet battle
Also known as Combate de Cartagena (1734)
Night of 11 to 12 October 1734 · Waters off Cartagena, south east Spain
Fought between Spain against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders Jefe de Escuadra Gabriel Pérez de Alderete (Spain); Wikidata, citing the Diccionario Biográfico Español, also lists Isidoro García del Postigo and Carlos Reggio y Gravina among the Spanish officers
Forces Alderete's squadron, on passage from Naples to Cádiz, against three Algerian ships
Losses Spain: 6 killed and 14 wounded, with damage to rigging, masts and sails. Algiers: one ship of 40 guns forced to surrender and sunk, her surviving Moors and Turks made captive; 24 Christian slaves aboard her were freed; the other two ships escaped badly damaged.
Result Spanish victory
Alderete's squadron met three Algerian ships off Cartagena on the night of the 11th and attacked at once. Despite the darkness and stubborn resistance, one Algerian ship of 40 guns was forced to surrender and was sunk; the other two fled soon after the fighting began and were separated by a sudden storm. The Spanish ships put into the bay of Alicante to repair their damage.
Why it is remembered The Gaceta de Madrid of 26 October 1734 reported it as a lesson that would make the Algerian corsairs raid the Spanish coasts less often.
Sources differ Date: the Gaceta de Madrid places the fight on the night of the 11th; Wikidata gives 12 October 1734. The Gaceta names the commander Gabriel de Aldrete or Alderete. The number of captives in the scanned Gaceta is illegible.
Sources Wikidata · boe.es
No free image of this battle has been found yet.
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Polish Succession
Siege of Danzig (1734) Landing or siege
22 February to 30 June 1734 · Danzig (Gdańsk) and Weichselmünde, Poland
Fought between Russia and Saxony, for Augustus III, against Stanisław I and France
Commanders Peter Lacy, Burkhard Christoph von Münnich, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, with Admiral Thomas Gordon commanding the fleet (Russia and Saxony); Stanisław I, Johann Wilhelm von Vietinghoff, Gabriel de Rochon de Lapeyrouse, captured, Marquis de Barailh, Count Plélo, killed (Stanisław and France)
Forces 12,000 Russian and Saxon troops at first, 37,000 to 60,000 in all, with the Russian fleet; about 4,500 defenders at first, about 24,445 in all, with a French squadron (Achille, Gloire, Fleuron, Brillant, l'Astrée)
Ships Achille, Gloire, Fleuron, Brillant, l'Astrée, Mittau
Losses Russians and Saxons: 801 killed, 1,753 wounded, 12 missing, about 8,000 in all. Defenders: unknown; the garrison surrendered.
Result Russian and Saxon victory
Russian troops besieged Danzig, where Stanisław I had taken refuge. A French squadron under Commodore Barailh landed about 1,800 troops at Weichselmünde in May and captured the Russian frigate Mittau. Admiral Thomas Gordon's Russian fleet arrived on 1 June and its guns battered the French position until the French surrendered; Weichselmünde and the port fell soon after, and Danzig capitulated on 30 June.
Why it is remembered It was the first time French and Russian troops met as enemies in the field. Stanisław escaped disguised as a peasant two days before the surrender.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750
Battle of Málaga (1736) Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla de Málaga (1736); encounter off Marbella, 6 November 1736
6 to 8 November 1736 · Off Málaga and Marbella, southern Spain
Fought between Order of St John (Knights of Malta) against the Regency of Algiers
Commanders Lieutenant General Fra Bartolomeo Tommasi (Order of St John); Agi Solimão Pantallaresch, Admiral of Algiers (Algiers)
Forces Three ships of the Order, Sant'Antonio, San Giovanni and San Vincenzo Ferreri, against three Algerian ships
Ships Sant'Antonio, San Giovanni, San Vincenzo Ferreri, Demi-Lune, L'Arangi
Losses Algiers: two frigates captured according to a philatelic account; losses in men not recorded in the sources found.
Result Maltese victory
The Maltese squadron was cruising off Alicante when, on 27 October 1736, it learned that Barbary ships were off Cape Palos, the largest said to carry 64 guns. It met the Algerian squadron of three ships under Agi Solimão Pantallaresch on 6 November in the waters of Marbella. One account names the captured Algerian frigates as Demi-Lune of 36 guns and L'Arangi of 34 guns.
Why it is remembered Accounts were printed in Naples and Florence in 1736 and in Portuguese in 1737, and the action appears on a 1989 stamp of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. A painting of the battle decorates the bedroom of Giovanni Battista Tommasi, later Grand Master of the Order.
Sources differ Date: the 1737 Portuguese pamphlet gives 6 November 1736 off Marbella; Wikidata gives 7 to 8 November off Málaga. The philatelic source mentions three captured ships in the stamp caption but names only two, and also describes a separate action off Marbella on 6 September 1736 in which the San Vincenzo attacked three Algerian ships and the Chiulac was taken; that may be the same event misdated.
Sources Wikidata · um.edu.mt · shipstamps.co.uk
Image: Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Poste Magistrali
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Russo-Turkish War (1735 to 1739)
Battle of Cape Lori Fleet battle
Also known as Lori Burnu Deniz Muharebesi
9 to 10 August 1737 · Off Cape Lori, Sea of Azov
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Russia
Commanders Süleyman Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Losses The Russian fleet was destroyed.
Result Ottoman victory
Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire in 1736, and the Ottomans sent a fleet to the Black Sea. In a two day battle off Cape Lori in the Sea of Azov, the Ottoman fleet under Süleyman Pasha destroyed the Russian fleet.
Why it is remembered The war ended with the Treaty of Belgrade, which the Turkish account counts among the Ottoman Empire's major successes of the 18th century.
Sources Wikipedia (TR)
Image: Johann Homann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Russo-Turkish War (1735 to 1739)
Battle of Henichesk Fleet battle
Also known as İnceki Deniz Muharebesi
9 to 10 July 1737 · İnceki strait (present day Henichesk, Ukraine), western Sea of Azov
Fought between Ottoman Empire against Russia
Commanders Süleyman Pasha (Ottoman Empire)
Losses Heavy losses to the Russian army ashore.
Result Ottoman victory
The Ottoman fleet under Süleyman Pasha defeated the Russian fleet in the İnceki strait in the western Sea of Azov. It also caused heavy losses to the Russian army on land.
Why it is remembered It was one of the Ottoman naval successes in the Sea of Azov in 1737.
Sources Wikipedia (TR)
Image: Johann Homann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear
Battle of Porto Bello (1739) Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Portobello; Capture of Puerto Bello
20 November 1739 · Portobelo, Panama
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Edward Vernon (Great Britain); Francisco de la Vega (Spain)
Forces 6 British ships of the line and 2 tenders against about 700 Spanish defenders, 2 guarda costa vessels, 1 sloop and 1 snow
Losses British: 3 killed, 7 wounded. Spanish: 260 to 300 captured, 2 guarda costa vessels and the snow captured, the sloop sunk.
Result British victory
A Royal Navy squadron of six ships of the line under Admiral Edward Vernon attacked the Spanish settlement of Portobelo and captured it from its defenders.
Why it is remembered The victory was greeted with great popular acclaim in Britain. A painting, The Capture of Puerto Bello, was made in 1740.
Sources differ The main account dates the battle 20 November 1739; the painting's title gives 21 November 1739.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Samuel Scott, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear
Action of 8 April 1740 Single-ship action
Also known as Capture of the Princesa
8 April 1740 · About 300 miles south west of the Lizard, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Colvill Mayne, Thomas Durell, Lord Augustus FitzRoy (Great Britain); Pablo Agustín de Gera, surrendered (Spain)
Forces 3 British 70-gun third rates, HMS Kent, HMS Lenox and HMS Orford, against the Spanish third rate Princesa (rated 70 guns, carrying 64)
Ships Princesa, HMS Kent, HMS Lenox, HMS Orford
Losses British: 17 killed, 40 wounded. Spanish: 33 killed, 100 wounded, 517 captured, ship captured.
Result British victory
Three British third rates under Captain Colvill Mayne chased down the Spanish Princesa south west of the Lizard. After a long fight she surrendered.
Why it is remembered Princesa was taken into the Royal Navy. Peter Monamy painted the action.
Sources differ An engraving of the action names the third British ship as Oxford rather than Orford.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Nathaniel Parr / After Peter Monamy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear
Siege of St. Augustine (1740) Landing or siege
13 June to 20 July 1740 · St. Augustine, Spanish Florida
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders James Oglethorpe, Ahaya Secoffee, Captain Pearce (Great Britain); Manuel de Montiano (Spain)
Forces 1,000 British infantry, 900 sailors, 1,200 Native warriors, 56 guns, 5 frigates and 3 sloops against 750 Spanish infantry, 50 guns, the fort and 6 small ships
Losses British: 122 killed, 16 captured, 14 deserted, 56 guns and 1 schooner captured. Spanish: unknown.
Result Spanish victory
A British force from Georgia and South Carolina under James Oglethorpe, with Native allies and supported by frigates and sloops, besieged St. Augustine in Spanish Florida. The Spanish held out.
Why it is remembered St. Augustine stayed in Spanish hands.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Shreeg88 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear and War of the Austrian Succession
Battle of Cartagena de Indias Landing or siege
Also known as Sitio de Cartagena de Indias; Siege of Cartagena de Indias (1741)
13 March to 20 May 1741 · Cartagena de Indias, Viceroyalty of New Granada (present day Colombia)
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Edward Vernon, Thomas Wentworth, John Grant, killed, Charles Knowles (Great Britain); Sebastián de Eslava, Blas de Lezo, José Polanco Campuzano, Carlos Desnaux (Spain)
Forces 27,400 to 30,000 British personnel, including 15,398 sailors, with 29 ships of the line, 22 frigates, 71 sloops, 2 hospital ships, 80 troopships and 50 merchant ships, against 3,000 to 4,000 Spanish defenders with 6 ships of the line and shore guns
Ships Galicia, Boyne, Prince Frederick, Hampton Court, Tilbury, Suffolk, Shrewsbury
Losses British: 9,500 to 11,500 dead, largely from disease, 7,500 wounded and sick, 6 ships lost, 17 ships of the line heavily damaged, 4 frigates and 27 transports lost. Spanish: 800 dead, 1,200 wounded, 6 ships lost.
Result Spanish victory
After two failed naval attacks in 1740, the British returned in March 1741 with a combined fleet and army. They broke the chain across the Boca Chica channel and took Fort San Luis, while Blas de Lezo scuttled two ships to block the channel and set Galicia alight, though she was captured. A night assault on Fort San Lázaro failed, and disease ravaged the British force, which withdrew in May.
Why it is remembered It showed Spain could hold its Caribbean ports and largely ended fighting in the region. The British had struck medals in advance celebrating a victory that never came, and Blas de Lezo has a monument in Madrid's Plaza de Colón.
Sources differ British dead are given as anything from 9,500 to 11,500.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Luis Fernández Gordillo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Travancore-Dutch War
Battle of Colachel Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Kolachel; Battle of Kulachal
10 August 1741 (31 July 1741 Old Style) · Colachel, Malabar Coast, India
Fought between Travancore against the Dutch East India Company
Commanders Marthanda Varma and Ramayyan Dalawa (Travancore); Eustachius De Lannoy, Donadi and Duyvenschot, all captured (Dutch East India Company)
Forces Dutch: an expedition of seven large ships and several smaller vessels that landed troops north of Colachel. Travancore: its army on land and local fishermen at sea
Ships Maarseveen (Dutch)
Losses Travancore: negligible. Dutch: 24 officials taken prisoner; muskets, swords and cannon captured
Result Travancore victory
The Dutch bombarded the coast near Colachel and declared a blockade, and on 10 February 1741 an expedition of seven large ships and several smaller vessels landed troops just north of the town. Local Mukkuvar fishermen sided with Travancore and are said to have sunk Dutch ships at anchor by night. On 5 August a Travancore shot set off powder in the Dutch stockade and burned its rice store; the Dutch surrendered, and De Lannoy and his officers were taken prisoner.
Why it is remembered A victory pillar stands at Kulachal. De Lannoy entered Travancore's service, rose to command its army and built the Nedumkottai fortifications, and Travancore took over the pepper trade.
Sources differ One account gives 7 August for the surrender and 10 August for the battle, and notes that other sources give other dates; prisoners are given as 24 officials in another account and 28 officers in a third account.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Infocaster at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession and War of Jenkins' Ear
Action of 14 June 1742 Raid
Also known as Combat de Saint-Tropez
14 June 1742 · Saint-Tropez, France
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Captain Richard Norris (Great Britain); Donato Domas (Spain)
Forces 2 British fourth rates, 1 sloop and 1 fireship against 5 Spanish royal galleys
Losses Spanish: all 5 galleys burned. British: minor.
Result British victory
A small British squadron under Captain Richard Norris surprised five Spanish royal galleys near Sainte-Marguerite and chased them into the French port of Saint-Tropez. Ignoring French neutrality, Norris followed them in and burned all five at little cost.
Why it is remembered It was a British attack on Spanish ships inside a neutral French port.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Manuel de Castro, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Russo-Swedish War (1741 to 1743)
Battle of Korpoström Fleet battle
Also known as Sea Battle at Korpoström
20 May 1743 · Korpoström, Finland
Fought between Russia against Sweden
Commanders James Keith (Russia); Abraham Falkengréen (Sweden)
Forces 21 Russian vessels, mostly lightly armed galleys, against 31 Swedish vessels, also mostly galleys
Result Russian victory
A Swedish galley fleet under Abraham Falkengréen met a smaller Russian galley force under James Keith near Korpoström. Despite their numbers, the Swedes were defeated.
Why it is remembered It was a galley battle in the last year of the Russo-Swedish War of 1741 to 1743.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Cerrg C, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear
Battle of La Guaira Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of La Guayra
2 to 5 March 1743 · Off La Guaira, present day Venezuela
Fought between Spain against Great Britain
Commanders Gabriel de Zuloaga, Mateo Gual, José de Iturriaga (Spain); Charles Knowles, Chaloner Ogle (Great Britain)
Forces About 1,000 Spanish defenders against 2,400 British troops with 8 ships of the line, 9 frigates, bomb vessels and fireships, and 2 troopships
Ships HMS Burford
Losses British: 97 killed, including the captain of HMS Burford, 308 wounded, many ships badly damaged or lost. Spanish: 300 killed or wounded.
Result Spanish victory
A British expedition under Charles Knowles attacked La Guaira, a port of the Royal Gipuzkoan Company of Caracas whose ships had carried troops and supplies for Spain. The shore defences beat off the attack and the expedition failed.
Why it is remembered Knowles had to refit before he could move on to Puerto Cabello.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Diary of Caracas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear
Battle of Puerto Cabello (1743) Landing or siege
16 April 1743 · Puerto Cabello, present day Venezuela
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Charles Knowles (Great Britain); Gabriel Zuloaga (Spain)
Forces About 4,000 British infantry and sailors with 2 third rates, 2 fourth rates, 1 fifth rate, 2 sixth rates, 1 sloop, 1 bomb vessel and 13 other vessels, against about 2,000 Spanish infantry and militia, a castle, 2 shore batteries and a blockship
Losses British: 100 killed or wounded. Spanish: unknown; 1 blockship scuttled.
Result Spanish victory
After the repulse at La Guaira, Charles Knowles attacked the Spanish colonial port of Puerto Cabello. The attack failed.
Why it is remembered It was the second failure of Knowles's 1743 expedition against the Venezuelan coast.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession
Action of 8 May 1744 Single-ship action
Also known as Combat du 19 mai 1744 (French)
8 May 1744 · Off the Berlengas, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between France against Great Britain
Commanders Hubert de Brienne and Étienne Perier (France); Thomas Watson (Great Britain), killed in action
Forces 2 French ships of the line and 1 frigate against 1 British ship of the line
Ships Content, Mars, HMS Northumberland
Losses Britain: HMS Northumberland captured; her captain, Thomas Watson, and her second lieutenant were among the dead. France: unknown.
Result French victory
Two French ships of the line, the 60-gun Content and the 64-gun Mars, engaged the British 70-gun HMS Northumberland. After a hard action lasting four hours Northumberland was captured. Her captain, Thomas Watson, was killed.
Why it is remembered A minor action of the war, recalled for the loss of a British 70-gun ship and her captain to two French ships.
Sources differ The English account dates the action 8 May 1744; the French account's title gives 19 May 1744.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Ambroise Louis Garneray, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession
Battle of Toulon (1744) Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Cape Sicié; Bataille du cap Sicié
21 to 22 February 1744 (11 to 12 February Old Style) · Off Toulon, Mediterranean Sea
Fought between Great Britain against Spain and France
Commanders Thomas Mathews, Richard Lestock, William Rowley (Great Britain); Juan José Navarro (Spain); Claude-Élisée de Court de La Bruyère (France)
Forces 32 British ships of the line, 2 frigates, 2 fireships and a hospital ship against 28 Spanish and French ships of the line, 4 frigates and 4 fireships
Ships HMS Namur, HMS Marlborough, Anne Galley, Real Felipe, Constante, Poder, Saint Esprit
Losses British: 133 killed, 223 wounded, 17 captured, 1 fireship (Anne Galley) destroyed. Spanish and French: 149 killed, 467 wounded, 1 ship of the line (Poder) scuttled.
Result Tactically inconclusive; the British blockade was lifted
A Spanish squadron trapped in Toulon, supported by the French Levant Fleet though France was not yet at war with Britain, tried to break past the British Mediterranean Fleet. Light winds scattered the fleets and Lestock's rear division stayed largely out of action; Mathews in Namur, with Marlborough, attacked the Spanish rear, and Real Felipe and Constante were badly damaged. Poder was taken, retaken by the French and scuttled, and the fireship Anne Galley blew up short of her target. Mathews broke off the chase and withdrew to Menorca.
Why it is remembered The court-martial that followed dismissed Mathews while Lestock was cleared, and seven captains were removed for failing to engage. It led to changes requiring captains to fight far more aggressively.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: William Henry Toms, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession
Battle of Anguilla Landing or siege
Also known as Bataille d'Anguilla (French)
21 May 1745 · Anguilla, British West Indies
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Arthur Hodge (Great Britain); Le Touché (France)
Forces 150 British soldiers against a French force of 2 frigates, 3 privateers and 2 ship's tenders carrying 759 soldiers
Losses Britain: 7 killed or wounded. France: 35 killed or drowned, 65 wounded and 50 captured.
Result British victory
A French force from two frigates and three privateers landed about 760 men on Anguilla and marched inland. The British defenders repulsed them with heavy losses, then counter-attacked and forced the French to flee to their ships.
Sources differ One account dates the battle 1 June 1745; another account gives 21 May 1745. One account gives 760 men landed, another account 759 soldiers.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Roy Googin, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · King George's War (War of the Austrian Succession)
Siege of Louisbourg (1745) Landing or siege
12 May to 28 June 1745 · Louisbourg, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Fought between Great Britain and the New England colonies against France
Commanders William Pepperrell, Peter Warren, John Bradstreet and Edward Tyng (Great Britain and New England); Louis Duchambon, Pierre Morpain and Joseph la Malgue (France)
Forces 4,200 men and 90 warships and transports against a garrison of 2,390
Losses British and New England: 100 killed and wounded, 900 dead of disease. France: 130 killed and wounded, 300 dead of disease, 1,400 captured.
Result British victory; Louisbourg surrendered
New England troops landed near Louisbourg on 11 May and, with the support of a British fleet, laid siege to the fortress. Its seaward defences were strong, but low rises behind it gave the attackers places for siege batteries. The poorly paid and supplied garrison lost control of the outer defences and surrendered in the face of an imminent assault.
Why it is remembered Louisbourg, called the American Dunkirk for its privateers, was the main British success of the war in America. It was handed back to France under the 1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, over the objections of the British North Americans.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · King George's War (War of the Austrian Succession)
Naval Battle off Tatamagouche Convoy battle
Also known as Action of 15 June 1745; Battle of Famme Goose Bay
15 June 1745 (Old Style) · Off Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia
Fought between New England (Great Britain) against France and its Wabanaki Confederacy and Huron allies
Commanders David Donahew, Daniel Fones and Robert Beckwith (New England); Paul Marin de la Malgue (France)
Forces Three or four New England vessels with over 175 men against a French and native relief convoy of 2 schooners, 2 sloops and 50 canoes carrying about 1,200 fighters (500 French and 700 Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Huron)
Losses French and native side: described as considerable slaughter, many slain. New England: none.
Result New England (British) victory
A French and native convoy under Paul Marin de la Malgue was on its way to relieve the besieged fortress of Louisbourg. New England vessels under Captain David Donahew intercepted it off Tatamagouche and defeated it. The relief never reached Louisbourg.
Why it is remembered The Governor of Île Royale, Louis Du Pont Duchambon, believed the New Englanders would have lifted the siege had Marin arrived; instead he surrendered Louisbourg the day after the battle. The action is marked by a National Historic Sites of Canada plaque.
Sources differ One account gives three New England vessels; another account gives four ships. One account gives four French vessels; another account lists 2 schooners and 2 sloops.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Hantsheroes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · King George's War (War of the Austrian Succession)
Capture of Vigilant Single-ship action
18 to 20 May 1745 · Off Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Peter Warren and Edward Tyng (Great Britain); Marquis de la Maisonfort (France)
Forces 5 British ships against 1 French ship of the line, the 64-gun Vigilant, with 500 men
Ships Vigilant, HMS Superb, HMS Eltham, HMS Launceston, HMS Mermaid, Shirley Galley
Losses Britain: 6 wounded, including Tyng. France: Vigilant captured; 35 killed, 26 wounded and 100 taken prisoner.
Result British victory
Commodore Warren's ships met the French 64-gun Vigilant off Louisbourg. Mermaid engaged her, Shirley Galley under John Rous fired the first broadsides into her stern, Eltham followed, and Warren in Superb came alongside and tore her rigging and sails to pieces. Fog let Vigilant slip away, but in the morning she was seen wrecked and was taken; 100 French sailors were carried to Boston as prisoners.
Why it is remembered A French 64-gun ship was lost off Louisbourg in May 1745, while the fortress was under siege by New England forces.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession
Action of 6 July 1746 Fleet battle
Also known as Battle of Negapatam (1746)
6 July 1746 · Off Negapatam, Coromandel Coast of India
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Edward Peyton (Great Britain); Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais (France)
Forces 4 British ships of the line and 2 frigates against 1 French ship of the line and 8 East Indiamen
Losses Britain: 14 killed, 46 wounded. France: 27 killed, 53 wounded.
Result Inconclusive
A British squadron under Edward Peyton met a French force under La Bourdonnais, made up largely of armed East Indiamen, off Negapatam. The two sides fought without a decision.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Perrot P. (?), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession
Raid on Lorient Landing or siege
29 September to 10 October 1746 · Lorient, Brittany, France
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders James St Clair and Richard Lestock (Great Britain); Marquis de L'Hôpital and the Comte de Volvire-Ruffec (France)
Forces 16 British ships of the line, 8 frigates, 2 galiots and 43 troopships carrying 4,500 soldiers against 4,000 to 6,000 French soldiers
Result French victory; the British withdrew
A British expedition was sent to Lorient, the base of the French East India Company, to draw French troops away from Flanders. The ships waited several days off the coast, giving the town time to organise its defence. The troops reached the outskirts on 3 October and bombarded the town from 5 to 7 October, but disease, fatigue and poor engineering led the commander to order a retreat on 7 October, shortly before the French commander offered to surrender.
Why it is remembered The raid forced France to fortify southern Brittany. It also started a controversy between David Hume and Voltaire, and gave rise to a local cult of the Virgin Mary and several songs about the siege.
Sources differ One account dates the operation 29 September to 10 October 1746; another account gives 20 September 1746.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · Jacobite rising of 1745
Skirmish of Loch nan Uamh Single-ship action
2 May 1746 · Loch nan Uamh, west coast of the Scottish Highlands
Fought between Great Britain (Royal Navy) against French privateers supporting the Jacobites
Commanders Captain Noel (Royal Navy); Captain Rouillee and Captain Lorry (French privateers)
Forces 3 British sloops of war against 2 French frigates
Losses Britain: unknown. French: 29 killed and 85 wounded.
Result The Jacobite (French) ships retreated
Three Royal Navy sloops of war attacked two larger French privateer frigates that had come to support the Jacobite rebels. After the fight the French ships withdrew.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: J M Briscoe, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession
First Battle of Cape Finisterre Convoy battle
Also known as Bataille du cap Finisterre (mai 1747) (French)
14 May 1747 · Off Cape Finisterre, north west Spain, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders George Anson (Great Britain); Pierre de la Jonquière (France), captured
Forces 14 British ships of the line, 1 frigate, 1 sloop and 1 fireship against 4 French ships of the line, 8 frigates and 4 corvettes escorting 30 merchantmen
Losses Britain: 520 killed or wounded. France: 800 killed or wounded and 3,000 captured; 4 ships of the line captured with frigates, corvettes and merchantmen.
Result British victory
Admiral Anson's fleet attacked a French convoy escorted by warships under de la Jonquière. In a five hour battle the British captured all four French ships of the line together with frigates and merchantmen. One French frigate, one French East India Company warship and the remaining merchantmen escaped.
Why it is remembered Samuel Scott painted the action in 1749 as Vice Admiral Sir George Anson's Victory off Cape Finisterre.
Sources differ One account gives 4 ships of the line, 2 frigates and 7 merchantmen captured; another account gives 4 ships of the line, 4 frigates, 4 corvettes and 6 merchantmen captured.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Samuel Scott, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession
Second Battle of Cape Finisterre Convoy battle
Also known as Bataille du cap Finisterre (octobre 1747) (French)
25 October 1747 (14 October Old Style) · About 300 miles (480 km) west of Finistère, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Edward Hawke (Great Britain); Henri-François des Herbiers (France)
Forces 14 British ships of the line against 8 French ships of the line and 1 frigate escorting about 250 merchant ships
Ships Intrépide
Losses Britain: 154 killed, 558 wounded. France: 800 killed or wounded, 4,000 captured, 6 ships of the line and 7 merchant ships captured.
Result British victory
Rear-Admiral Hawke intercepted a French convoy bound from the Basque Roads to the West Indies. Herbiers ordered the merchant ships to scatter and formed his warships into line to draw the British onto them. The British enveloped the rear of the French line and took the French ships one at a time; six were captured, but only seven of the merchant ships were taken.
Why it is remembered The victory cut the French colonies off from supply and reinforcement in the last year of the war.
Sources differ One account gives 250 merchant ships; another account gives 251.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Pierre-Julien Gilbert, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear
Voyage of the Glorioso Single-ship action
Also known as Carrera del Glorioso (Spanish)
25 July to 8 October 1747 · Atlantic Ocean, off the Azores, Cape Finisterre and Cape St Vincent
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders John Crookshanks, Matthew Buckle, James Hamilton (killed) and George Walker (Great Britain); Pedro Messia de la Cerda (Spain)
Forces 4 British ships of the line, 2 frigates, 2 brigs and 4 privateers, in successive attacks, against 1 Spanish ship of the line
Ships Glorioso, HMS Dartmouth, HMS Russell
Losses Britain: first battle 4 killed and 20 wounded; third battle 296 to 334 killed and HMS Dartmouth destroyed. Spain: first battle 5 killed and 44 wounded; third battle 33 killed, 130 wounded and Glorioso captured.
Result Glorioso landed her treasure in Spain but was captured in the final action
The 70-gun Spanish ship Glorioso, carrying four million Spanish dollars from the Spanish Main, beat off two British attacks off the Azores and Cape Finisterre and landed her cargo at Corcubión. Sailing on to Cádiz for repairs, she was attacked near Cape St Vincent by four British privateers and the ships of the line Dartmouth and Russell. The 50-gun Dartmouth blew up with most of her crew, but the 80-gun Russell forced Glorioso to strike her colours.
Why it is remembered Her captain and crew were treated as heroes in Spain and won British admiration for their resistance against a much larger force. Two British captains were court-martialled for their conduct, and Charles Brooking painted The Capture of the Glorioso.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Charles Brooking, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear (War of the Austrian Succession)
Action of 18 March 1748 Convoy battle
18 March 1748 · Off Cape St Vincent, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Thomas Cotes (Great Britain); Juan de Egues (Spain)
Forces 4 British ships of the line and 2 frigates against 9 Spanish ships of the line escorting 17 merchant ships
Losses Spain: 5 merchant ships captured. Britain: unknown.
Result British victory
A British squadron of six ships under Thomas Cotes attacked a Spanish convoy escorted by ships of the line and frigates, and captured several of its merchantmen.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Joshua Reynolds (1723, 1792), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession
Action of 31 January 1748 Single-ship action
31 January 1748 · Off Ushant, Atlantic Ocean
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Robert Harland (Great Britain); Charles d'Albert du Chesne, Marquis d'Albert (France)
Forces 2 British ships of the line, HMS Nottingham and the 60-gun HMS Portland, against the French 74-gun Magnanime with a crew of 686
Ships Magnanime, HMS Nottingham, HMS Portland
Losses Britain: Nottingham 16 killed and 18 wounded, Portland 4 wounded. France: 45 killed, 105 wounded, 530 captured; Magnanime captured.
Result British victory
Magnanime left Brest for the East Indies in January 1748 but was partly dismasted in a storm off Ushant and was limping back when a British fleet under Edward Hawke sighted her. HMS Nottingham closed with her at 1 am and fought a running action for six hours. Hawke sent HMS Portland to help, and after a few shots from Portland Magnanime struck.
Why it is remembered Magnanime, a new ship less than four years old, was taken into the Royal Navy under the same name.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Heins, attributed to Dirck, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear (War of the Austrian Succession)
Battle of Havana (1748) Fleet battle
Also known as Batalla de La Habana (Spanish)
12 to 14 October 1748 · Off Havana, Cuba
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Charles Knowles (Great Britain); Andrés Reggio (Spain)
Forces 7 British ships of the line against 6 Spanish ships of the line and 1 frigate
Losses Britain: 59 killed, 120 wounded. Spain: 86 killed, 197 wounded, 470 captured; 1 ship of the line captured and 1 ship of the line blown up by her crew.
Result British tactical victory; the Spanish treasure fleet was not intercepted
Rear-Admiral Charles Knowles, trying to intercept the Spanish treasure fleet, attacked a Spanish squadron under Andrés Reggio off Havana. The British captured one ship of the line and drove the Spanish flagship ashore, where, fully dismasted, she was blown up by her crew; Reggio's squadron fell back to Havana. The fighting ended when the British learned that the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle had been signed.
Why it is remembered It was the last engagement of both the War of Jenkins' Ear and the War of the Austrian Succession. Knowles quarrelled with several of his captains afterwards, Reggio was court-martialled and acquitted, and Richard Paton painted the action in 1770.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Richard Paton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of the Austrian Succession
Battle of Saint-Louis-du-Sud Landing or siege
Also known as Battle of Port Louis
22 March 1748 · Saint-Louis-du-Sud (Port Louis), Saint-Domingue
Fought between Great Britain against France
Commanders Charles Knowles (Great Britain); Étienne Cochard de Chastenoye (France)
Forces 9 British ships of the line and 2 sloops against a fort held by 310 French soldiers
Losses Britain: 20 killed, 50 wounded. France: 160 killed or wounded, 150 captured and 4 ships captured.
Result British victory
A Royal Navy squadron under Admiral Charles Knowles attacked the large French fort at Saint-Louis-du-Sud in the colony of Saint-Domingue, then commanded by the interim governor Étienne Cochard de Chastenoye. The fort was destroyed and four ships were taken.
Why it is remembered The attack was painted by Richard Paton.
Sources differ The accounts date the battle 22 March 1748; the title of Richard Paton's painting gives 8 March 1748.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Richard Paton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Line of Battle, 1651 to 1750 · War of Jenkins' Ear
Battle of Santiago de Cuba (1748) Raid
9 April 1748 · Entrance to the harbour of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Fought between Great Britain against Spain
Commanders Charles Knowles (Great Britain); Arcos Moreno (Spain)
Forces 8 British ships of the line, 2 frigates, 2 sloops and 1 tender against the harbour batteries and 500 Spanish regulars
Losses Britain: 100 killed and about 200 wounded. Spain: unknown.
Result Spanish victory
Rear-Admiral Charles Knowles tried to force the entrance of Santiago de Cuba, a major base of Spanish privateers in the Caribbean. The batteries of Morro Castle put two British ships of the line out of action, and they had to be towed out to sea. The remaining British warships withdrew soon after.
Why it is remembered A failed British attempt to strike at Spanish trade and privateering at one of its main Caribbean bases.
Sources Wikipedia
Image: Escla, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons